THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 [OJ L 173, 12.6.2014, p. 84.], and in particular Article 28(5) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Given the broad variety of over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts, in order to determine when an OTC derivative contract may be considered to have a direct, substantial and foreseeable effect within the Union as set out in Article 28(2) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 and to specify cases where it is necessary or appropriate to prevent the evasion of rules and obligations arising from any provision of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council [Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (OJ L 201, 27.7.2012, p. 1).], a criteria-based approach should be adopted.