123. In order for ESMA to streamline the reporting process to the greatest degree possible and simultaneously ensure the submission of high quality comparable data, ESMA is proposing a number of reporting templates. Where a template is referred to in a specific reporting item, the reference to the relevant Template is provided. All these Templates are included in Annex I.

124. Each reporting template has been tailored to support the specific requirements of each reporting item. Following the finalisation of these Guidelines all relevant templates will be made available on the ESMA website in excel format. CRAs will then be free to download and use the Templates for use in their reporting processes.

125. Should ESMA identify a need to revise a Reporting Template following the introduction of the Guidelines this will be done in one of two ways:

i. Where an amendment is limited to a non-material change (such as the addition, removal or modification of an existing field to clarify the information to be provided) within an existing Reporting Template, ESMA will update that Reporting Template and revise the Guidelines to reflect its update, drawing CRAs attention to the change.

ii. Where an amendment is not limited to a non-material changes within an existing template and includes amendments to any applicable reporting instructions, ESMA will consult on these changes in the customary fashion and update the Guidelines accordingly.