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'Europa moet eengsgezind optreden'

"As Europeans, we all are in the same boat, and therefore we should act in unison," zei Hanzo van Beusekom op de tiende Annual European Compliance and Legal Conference. "Not just because ‘we all breath the same air and we are all mortal’, as President John. F Kennedy once said. But also because we are all part of a…

Why this matters

This is a speech by AFM leadership at a compliance conference emphasizing the importance of unified European action on financial market regulation. The content references three themes—Resilience, AI, and Europe—and five conditions for centralized supervision, but provides no specific rules, guidance, or enforcement...

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Interne auditfuncties professionaliseren verder bij financiële ondernemingen

Interne auditfuncties bij financiële ondernemingen worden steeds professioneler. Uit onderzoek van de Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) bij zes grote banken, vier verzekeraars en vijf grote financieel dienstverleners blijkt dat zij in toenemende mate investeren in onafhankelijke toetsing. We moedigen ondernemingen…

Why this matters

This is a regulatory guidance document from the AFM (Dutch financial regulator) presenting findings from a market survey on internal audit functions. It identifies expectations for banks, insurers, and financial service providers regarding independent testing and governance controls.

BankInsurance

DORA update: the sector is making progress, but some areas require attention

The financial sector has made major progress since the introduction of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). At the same time, as a result of its supervision and requests for information, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) has identified areas requiring further action from financial…

Why this matters

AFM regulatory update on DORA compliance progress and implementation gaps. Informational content summarizing sector-wide developments, compliance improvements (94% register approval), and areas requiring attention (incident reporting, policy documentation, threshold calculations).

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🇳🇱 AFM News Significant

T+1-detailregels zijn bekend: aan de slag met de voorbereidingen

Op 11 oktober 2027 stappen de financiële markten in de Europese Unie over op een T+1-afwikkelingscyclus. De Europese Commissie heeft inmiddels de detailregels voor deze overgang vastgesteld. Daarom vraagt de AFM marktpartijen om verder te gaan - of te starten - met de T+1-voorbereidingen. Financiële ondernemingen die…

Why this matters

AFM announcement regarding T+1 settlement cycle transition scheduled for October 11, 2027 in the EU. Informational guidance on regulatory requirements and implementation deadlines (December 7, 2026 and October 11, 2027).

Compliance Deadline: 7 December 2026
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Areas for attention for compliance and internal audit functions at fund managers

Many fund managers have their compliance and internal audit functions well organised. Nevertheless, improvements are needed. For example, documentation is not always up to date, fund managers do not always retain sufficient control when outsourcing, and decisions based on proportionality are often insufficiently…

Why this matters

AFM guidance on compliance and internal audit function improvements for fund managers. Addresses documentation quality, outsourcing oversight, and proportionality justification. Informational supervisory guidance from European Common Supervisory Action (CSA) coordinated by ESMA.

Asset Manager

Dutch supervisory authorities urge faster action on digital autonomy

Businesses procuring IT services should join forces more often, as this is key to strengthening their digital autonomy. Public authorities and businesses should make digital autonomy a core consideration in their procurement decisions, helping to drive the development of European digital services.

Why this matters

Dutch supervisory authorities' joint press release on digital autonomy and reducing IT service provider dependencies. Addresses operational resilience through supply chain risk management and cybersecurity considerations aligned with DORA and NIS2 Directive implementation.

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FSC: 'AI-modellen vergroten urgentie cyberweerbaarheid'

Het Financieel Stabiliteitscomité (FSC) constateert tijdens zijn vergadering van 26 juni 2026 dat geavanceerde AI-modellen het cyberdreigingslandschap ingrijpend veranderen. Het FSC benadrukt dat financiële instellingen hun cyberweerbaarheid hierop moeten aanpassen en pleit voor sterkere coördinatie en betere…

Why this matters

FSC press release discussing AI-driven cybersecurity threats to financial stability, private credit growth monitoring, and resilience requirements. Informational statement from regulatory committee addressing systemic risks and coordination needs across financial sector.

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Evaluatie: AFM werkt doelmatig en doeltreffend, ruimte voor verdere verbetering

De Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) is een professionele en doelmatige toezichthouder die haar wettelijke taken doeltreffend uitvoert en aantoonbare resultaten boekt. Dat blijkt uit de onafhankelijke evaluatie van het functioneren van de AFM als zelfstandig bestuursorgaan (zbo) over de periode 2021–2025. In het…

Why this matters

This is an informational news article announcing the AFM's five-year regulatory evaluation results (2021-2025). The evaluation covers the AFM's supervisory effectiveness across multiple domains including crypto, cybersecurity, and sustainability. It is a positive assessment with recommendations for improvement.

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Effective management requires more than just policy

In its SREP Market Overview 2025, the AFM notes that many firms have their foundations in order, but that implementation is lagging behind. Internal control and IT risks, in particular, require improvement. The message is clear: ensure that policies are not merely in place, but that they demonstrably work in practice.

Why this matters

AFM's SREP Market Overview 2025 provides regulatory guidance on implementation gaps in internal controls, IT risk management, and governance. This is informational content highlighting supervisory expectations rather than announcing new rules.

Asset ManagerBroker Dealer

Faster AI attacks call for greater resilience

Advanced AI models can speed up the process of identifying and combining vulnerabilities. As a result, organisations have less time to address vulnerabilities and mitigate incidents. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, with less advanced security or older systems, may be relatively more vulnerable. The…

Why this matters

AFM speech addressing AI-driven cyber threats and resilience requirements. Applies broadly across financial services sectors with emphasis on vulnerability management, patch management, and incident response. Classified as informational/advisory content rather than binding regulation, hence null urgency.

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Aandacht voor cliëntenonderzoek bij de omgang met politiek prominente personen

Met een aantal aandachtspunten wil de Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) financiële ondernemingen wijzen op de omgang met cliëntenonderzoek bij politiek prominente personen, politically exposed persons (PEPs). Uit een AFM-onderzoek blijkt dat ondernemingen bijvoorbeeld niet altijd maatwerk verrichten, terwijl elke…

Why this matters

AFM guidance on PEP (politically exposed persons) client due diligence procedures. Addresses AML/financial crime compliance with focus on risk-based approach, avoiding discrimination, proper definitions, outsourcing oversight, and staff training.

BankAsset ManagerBroker Dealer
Payment Provider

Financial stability under further pressure due to Iran war

The escalation of the Middle East conflict leaves the global economy in a clearly worse state than previously expected. Higher inflation expectations, lower growth and heightened uncertainty are also affecting the financial sector, according to the annual Financial Stability Report from the Dutch Authority for the…

Why this matters

AFM's annual Financial Stability Report addresses systemic risks affecting multiple financial sectors. Key concerns include geopolitical uncertainty impacting market volatility, cyber/AI fraud threats, gas derivatives trading supervision, and private credit liquidity risks.

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🇳🇱 AFM News Significant

Oproep om twee T+1-gereedheidsenquêtes in te vullen

Vanaf 11 oktober 2027 verkort de afwikkelingscyclus voor effectentransacties van T+2 naar T+1. Dit vraagt om aanpassingen in systemen en processen in de hele kapitaalmarktketen. Om de voortgang te monitoren, roept de Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) marktpartijen op om twee T+1-gereedheidsenquêtes in te vullen. Het…

Why this matters

AFM announcement regarding T+1 settlement cycle transition (from T+2 to T+1 effective October 11, 2027). Calls for market participants to complete readiness surveys by June 9, 2026.

Response Due: 9 June 2026
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Insurance