Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations implement parts of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments (recast) (OJ L173, 12/6/2014 p.349) ("MiFID II") and Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments (OJ L173, 12/06/2014 p.84) ("MiFIR"). MiFID II and MiFIR together replace Directive 2004/39/EC on markets in financial instruments (OJ L145, 30/04/2004 p.1) ("MiFID I").
Part 1 of these Regulations designates the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA"), and the Bank of England as the competent authorities in the United Kingdom responsible for carrying out the duties of competent authorities under Titles I to IV, VI and VII of MiFID and under MiFIR.
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Regulations permits investment firms authorised in the United Kingdom to apply to be treated as being exempt from the requirements of MiFID II (subject to certain conditions). This Chapter implements Article 3 of MiFID II, which allows Member States to choose not to apply the Directive to certain types of firm for which they are the home Member State.
Chapter 2 of Part 2 of these Regulations contains provisions concerning the status and supervision of third country (non-EU) firms providing investment services to the United Kingdom. These provisions give effect to Title VIII of MiFIR, which regulates how such firms may access the EU.