The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has formally adopted its Digital Strategy for 2026–2028 and updated its Data Strategy for 2023–2028. These frameworks emphasise a commitment to advancing digital transformation, encouraging innovation and collaboration, and reducing unnecessary complexity in financial market supervision.

The Digital Strategy emphasises four core objectives: fostering digital synergies across the EU; strengthening the digital capabilities of ESMA and the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS); enhancing operational efficiency; and establishing a secure, forward-looking ecosystem. Meanwhile, the revised Data Strategy prioritises reducing burdens, adapting to evolving technological landscapes, and unlocking efficiencies through flagship initiatives. Key developments include the streamlining of supervisory reporting for transaction and fund data, the expansion of the ESMA Data Platform, the progression of the MiCA supervisory tool for crypto-asset oversight, and the completion of the European Single Access Point (ESAP).

Verena Ross, ESMA Chair, stated: ‘ESMA is committed to smarter regulation and supervision, which drives our dual focus on digitalisation and simplification. These strategies support a digitally mature, resilient and agile institution that recognises the importance of data to its community”.

In line with ESMA’s broader simplification and burden reduction initiative launched last year, the strategies will be guided by dedicated roadmaps, with the aim of converging them into a unified framework by 2029. This approach promises to deliver tangible benefits for stakeholders and to drive sustained digital transformation across the ESFS.

The ESMA Digital Strategy 2026 – 2028 document – ESMA65-955014868-12887 Digital Strategy 2026-2028

The ESMA Data Strategy 2023 – 2028 update – ESMA60-157-3404 Data strategy 2023-2028