April 11, 2018 @ 9:20 pm By Cali Haan  |  

On Tuesday, April 10th, 22 European countries signed an declaration vowing to cooperate as partners in the development and deployment of blockchain tech across European jurisdictions. According to the declaration, “Cooperation on a European Blockchain Partnership,” earnest efforts to “reaffirm” Europe’s “leading role” globally in blockchain… Read More

March 10, 2018 @ 1:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

As we reported last week, the European Commission has announced its intent to pursue a Fintech Action Plan designed to boost Fintech innovation across continental Europe. The recognition that enabling innovations in finance are of strategic importance. This is a vital step in keeping Europe… Read More

March 20, 2017 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

In Europe, the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) are not very familiar with crowdfunding. In order to better understand and evaluate the potential of crowdfunding for creatives and cultural organizations, the European Commission has launched Crowdfunding4Culture. The initiative seeks to pinpoint what actions public authorities should take… Read More

January 29, 2017 @ 2:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), a pan-European alternative finance advocacy group, is asking members to participate regarding input on the Capital Markets Union.  Specifically, the ECN will be working with the Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) regarding input on… Read More

January 29, 2017 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

As part of its efforts to achieve a Capital Markets Union (CMU), the European Commission has launched a public consultation on the planned CMU mid-term review. This consultation offers an opportunity for stakeholders to provide targeted input to complement and advance actions put forward in… Read More

January 26, 2017 @ 8:33 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Parliament has published a report entitled: Crowdfunding in Europe – Introduction and State of Play. The short document is basically a synopsis on the status of crowdfunding in Europe. The report notes that while crowdfunding has grown rapidly, much of this growth has occurred in… Read More

December 31, 2016 @ 4:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Commission has announced the appointment of a group of individuals to advise on sustainable finance. The initiative is part of the ongoing Capital Markets Union (CMU) which took a serious blow following the Brexit decision.  The intent of the expert group is to… Read More

September 16, 2016 @ 1:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

File this one under recently discovered, but the European Commission published a report earlier this year that pretty much crushed any hope for a more synchronized approach for debt and equity crowdfunding across Europe. As highlighted in the editorial by Alessandro Lerro earlier this week,… Read More

September 14, 2016 @ 4:15 pm By Alessandro M. Lerro  |  

At Crowddialogue Europe in Graz, Austria last week, a panel presentation, moderated by Ronald Kleverlaan, inquired about the status of the European legislation on crowd-investing. Looking back to 2014, with the EU Commission’s Communication “Unleashing the Potential of Crowdfunding”, soon followed by the 2015 Communication “Action Plan… Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 12:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

EBN, a network of over 160 business innovation centres and incubators, has released a statement on the European Commission’s advocacy of investment crowdfunding in providing crucial access to capital for innovative young firms. CEO of the EBN network, Philippe Vanrie, welcomed the report stating; “We… Read More

April 22, 2016 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

EC Commissioner Jonathan Hill delivered a speech yesterday addressing the Capital Markets Union and other areas of financial services that are important to the economy of Europe. Hill, a UK national and former member of the House of Lords, holds the portfolio for Financial Stability, Financial… Read More

November 17, 2015 @ 7:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The EU’s VAT Committee has published its review of the liability to VAT of crowdfunding activities. The Committee stated that “where platforms provide services free of charge40 they remain outside the scope of application of the VAT Directive”.  But where services generate a fee, such… Read More

October 12, 2015 @ 10:26 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Parliament has adopted the proposal by the European Commission regarding a revised directive on payment services – also called PSD2. The law was originally proposed in July of 2013.  The legislation is designed to protect consumers when they make payments online and via… Read More

September 29, 2015 @ 12:12 am By JD Alois  |  

PwC has recently published an interesting report on the European Capital Markets Union (CMU).   The European Commission has an objective to diversify and improve access to capital.  Knocking down barriers and streamlining processes to accomplish this goal should be good for the entire EU… Read More

September 7, 2015 @ 12:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

EU Commissioner Jonathan Hill warned this past weekend about being too reliant on traditional banks.  Hill, who is Commissioner for Financial Services and Capital Markets, was interviewed by CNBC where he expressed his interest in crowdfunding as well as his concern that too much regulation… Read More

July 26, 2015 @ 10:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Securities & Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a Q&A addressing the potential for nefarious characters to abuse investment crowdfunding to launder cash or provide financing to terrorist organizations.  This is a subject the traditional banking sector knows rather well as they are subjected… Read More

March 17, 2015 @ 4:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been engaged with internet finance for some time recognizing the importance of crowdfunding to their industry. The EBA is an independent EU authority that strives to ensure effective regulation across Europe – a bit of a tall task.  Across… Read More

December 18, 2014 @ 9:28 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), an advocacy group based in Brussels, has published their annual report reviewing crowdfunding regulations in Europe, the United States, Israel and Canada. “Since we have started our work in 2012 and especially since our first edition of this paper in… Read More

July 2, 2014 @ 2:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Stakeholders Forum (ECSF) has finalized their initial members and posted their proposed rules that are expected to be present at the groups first meeting.  The deadline for applications was May 16, 2014 with the announcement being made by the EC this past… Read More

May 24, 2014 @ 1:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

Startups and small companies are the engine of economic growth.  Fast growing companies demand an ecosystem that recognizes their importance to the economy and society as a whole. According to recent Eurostat data GDP rose in Europe (EU 28)  only 0.1% in 2013 – this… Read More