The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) on Thursday hosted the plenary meeting of the International Organisation of Securities Commission’s (IOSCO) European Regional Committee (ERC) in Nicosia.
The ERC is one of four regional committees established by IOSCO to address regional issues related to securities regulation.
The event attracted over 52 participants, with the ERC representing 57 member authorities.
Discussions during the meeting focused on IOSCO’s key priorities and pressing issues affecting the securities market.
These included topics such as retail investor online safety, supervisory technology, and emerging market developments.
Moreover, a significant portion of the dialogue also centred on practical measures to mitigate risks posed by social media and financial influencers (finfluencers), ensuring enhanced safeguards for retail investors.
Jean-Paul Servais, Chair of both the ERC and the IOSCO Board, praised the collaborative efforts and contributions made during the meeting.
“IOSCO continues to make progress on several accounts for which the involvement of IOSCO regional committees is key, notably around retail investor protection but also to promote the implementation of globally agreed standards in areas such as sustainable finance and crypto assets,” Servais said.
He also expressed gratitude towards CySEC and its chair, George Theocharides, for hosting the event.
“Today’s meeting enabled an insightful dialogue amongst ERC members about global initiatives led by IOSCO,” he stated.
On his part, CySEC chairman George Theocharides said that “it is a great honour to be part of this international family that brings together the world’s securities regulators”.
“We are delighted to see so many countries represented here in Cyprus,” he added.
Highlighting CySEC’s dedication to retail investor protection, Theocharides unveiled a new educational document titled “CySEC Investor Guide – The dangers of social media: Unveiling the world of finfluencers.”
According to the announcement, the guide “highlights CySEC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing financial literacy in Cyprus”.
IOSCO, as a leading international policy forum for securities regulators, plays an important role in setting global standards for financial markets regulation.
With members regulating over 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets across 130 jurisdictions, IOSCO’s objectives include enhancing investor protection, ensuring fair and efficient markets, and promoting financial stability by reducing systemic risks.
Finally, it should be noted that the European Regional Committee is integral to IOSCO’s global framework, representing a diverse group of securities regulators from across Europe.
