FI SV EN

Developing the regulation of financial markets

Photo: Maskot / Gorilla.

Stable and efficient operation of financial markets is a major requirement for good economic development of the national economy. The Ministry of Finance ensures that the regulation of financial markets promotes the reliable and versatile operation of the markets and that the supply of financial services in Finland remains secure. In addition to statute drafting, the Ministry follows the operation of the markets and the stability development of the financial markets and takes part in various development projects of the financial markets with other authorities and market operators.

The regulation of financial markets is broadly harmonised within the EU, and most of the national legislation is based on EU directives or regulations. A key feature of the Ministry of Finance’s activity is to influence proactively the preparation of regulations concerning financial markets in the EU and to follow actively the development of regulation in the field in international organisations. In recent years, the regulation has focused on forming the Capital Markets Union.

The regulation of financial markets on the Ministry's responsibility applies to

the operation of companies offering financial and investment services, such as credit institutions, investment services companies and fund management companies;
payment and settlement systems;
securities and derivatives trading;
the book-entry system;
monitoring of financial markets;
prevention of money laundering on financial markets;
the penalty system of financial market regulation;
crisis resolution; and
the monetary and central banking system.

The Ministry grants operating licences to the regulated market, that is, the stock exchange, the clearing organisation and the central securities depository and confirms their rules.