(1)

It is appropriate to set out common procedures and forms for competent authorities to submit information to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) with regard to investigations, sanctions and measures referred to in Article 33 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

(2)

In order to facilitate the communication between competent authorities and ESMA and avoid unnecessary delays or failed submissions, each competent authority should designate a contact point specifically for the purpose of submitting the information required.

(3)

To ensure that all required information concerning sanctions and measures imposed by competent authorities is correctly identified and registered by ESMA, competent authorities should provide detailed and harmonised information using specific forms to that purpose.

(4)

Information about investigations to be provided to ESMA should be consistent and comparable in order to reflect the actual investigatory activity carried out under the Market Abuse Regulation on a given year. Therefore, the information should only include the investigations on which the relevant authorities have worked on during the reference period.

(5)

This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by ESMA to the Commission.

(6)

ESMA did not conduct open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, nor did it analyse potential related costs and benefits of introducing the standard forms and procedures for the relevant competent authorities, as this would have been disproportionate in relation to their scope and impact, taking into account that the addressees of the implementing technical standards would only be the national competent authorities of the Member States and not market participants.

(7)

ESMA has requested the opinion of the Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2),