(1)

Article 25d of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 requires that the European Securities and Markets Authority (‘ESMA’) charge third-country central counterparties (‘CCPs’) fees associated with applications for recognition under Article 25 of that Regulation and annual fees associated with the performance of its tasks in accordance with that Regulation in relation to recognised third-country CCPs. Article 25d(2) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 requires that such fees be proportionate to the turnover of the CCP concerned and cover all costs incurred by ESMA for the recognition and the performance of its tasks in relation to third-country CCP in accordance with that Regulation.

(2)

Fees associated with applications for recognition (‘recognition fees’) should be charged to third-country CCPs to cover ESMA’s costs for processing applications for recognition, including costs for verifying that applications are complete, requesting additional information, drafting of decisions and costs relating to the assessment of the systemic importance of third-country CCPs (‘tiering’). For CCPs that are systemically important or likely to become systemically important for the financial stability of the Union or of one or more of its Member States and that are recognised by ESMA in accordance with Article 25(2b) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (‘Tier 2 CCPs’), additional costs are incurred by ESMA. These additional costs are incurred by ESMA when assessing compliance with the recognition conditions set out in Article 25(2b) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 and whether, by complying with the applicable third-country legal framework, a CCP may be deemed to satisfy compliance with the requirements set out in Article 16 and Titles IV and V of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (‘comparable compliance’). The costs associated with applications made by Tier 2 CCPs will therefore be higher than those associated with applications made by third-country CCPs that are not deemed to be systemically important or likely to become systemically important for the financial stability of the Union or of one or more of its Member States (‘Tier 1 CCPs’).

(3)

While a basic recognition fee should be charged to all third-country CCPs applying for recognition under Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, an additional fee should be charged to Tier 2 CCPs to cover the additional cost incurred by ESMA as part of the application process. The additional recognition fee should also be charged to already recognised CCPs the first time that ESMA determines whether they are to be classified as Tier 2 CCPs following the review of their systemic importance under Article 25(5) or Article 89(3c) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.

(4)

Annual fees are also to be charged to recognised third-country CCPs to cover ESMA’s costs for the performance of its tasks under Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 in relation to such CCPs. For both Tier 1 and Tier 2 CCPs, those tasks include the periodic review of the systemic importance of CCPs pursuant to Article 25(5) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, the implementation and maintenance of cooperation arrangements with third-country authorities and the monitoring of regulatory and supervisory developments in third countries. For Tier 2 CCPs, ESMA is also required to supervise on an ongoing basis compliance by those CCPs with the requirements set out in Article 16 and Titles IV and V of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, including through comparable compliance, where granted. It is therefore appropriate that different annual fees apply to Tier 1 and Tier 2 CCPs.

(5)

The recognition and annual fees laid down in this Regulation should cover the costs that ESMA expects to incur when processing applications for recognition on the basis of its experience in performing tasks in relation to third-country CCPs and other supervised entities as well as on the basis of its expected costs as stated in its annual activity-based budget.

(6)

The tasks performed by ESMA under Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 in relation to recognised Tier 1 CCPs will largely be the same for each Tier 1 CCP independently of their size. It is therefore appropriate that the costs incurred by ESMA in relation to recognised Tier 1 CCPs are covered by levying an annual fee of the same amount on each recognised Tier 1 CCP. In relation to recognised Tier 2 CCPs, in order to ensure a fair allocation of fees which, at the same time, reflects the actual administrative effort required by ESMA for the performance of its tasks with respect to each Tier 2 CCP, annual fees should also take account of the turnover of the Tier 2 CCP.

(7)

Annual fees charged to third-country CCPs for the first year in which they are recognised pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 should be proportionate to the part of that year during which ESMA performs tasks in accordance with that Regulation in relation to those CCPs. The same principle should apply for the year in which a CCP that is recognised as a Tier 1 CCP, is classified for the first time as a Tier 2 CCP pursuant to Article 25(5) of that Regulation.

(8)

To ensure the timely funding of the costs incurred by ESMA in relation to applications for recognition made pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, recognition fees should be paid to ESMA before the processing of applications for recognition or the assessment of whether Tier 2 CCPs comply with the recognition requirements set out in Article 25(2b) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012. In order to ensure the timely funding of the costs incurred by ESMA in the performance of its tasks in relation to recognised third-country CCPs, annual fees should be paid in the beginning of the calendar year to which they relate. Annual fees in the first year of recognition should be paid soon after the adoption of recognition decisions.

(9)

In order to discourage repeated or unfounded applications, recognition fees should not be reimbursed in the case where an applicant withdraws its application. As the administrative work required in the case of an application for recognition that is refused is the same as that required in the case of an application that is accepted, recognition fees should not be reimbursed if recognition is refused.

(10)

Any costs incurred by ESMA after the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2019/2099 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) in respect of third-country CCPs that have already been recognised in accordance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 prior to 22 September 2020 should be covered by fees. Such third-country CCPs should therefore be required to pay an interim annual fee for 2020 and each subsequent year until the review of their systemic importance pursuant to Article 89(3c) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 has been carried out.

(11)

This Delegated Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency to ensure that ESMA is funded in a timely and appropriate manner following the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2019/2099,