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 the third subparagraph of Article 27(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) For the purpose of effective market monitoring by competent authorities, reference data for financial instruments should be reported in a consistent format and according to uniform standards.

(2) Reporting and publication of reference data in electronic, machine-readable and downloadable form and format facilitates the efficient use and exchange of that data.

(3) Promptly receiving reference data in respect of all financial instruments that are admitted to trading or that are traded on a trading venue or via a systematic internaliser, enables competent authorities and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to ensure data quality and effective market monitoring and thus contributing to market integrity.