Introducing AFME
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Introducing AFME

Learn about who we are, how we work, and our rich history

About Us
The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) is the voice of Europe’s wholesale financial markets, providing expertise across a broad range of regulatory and capital markets issues. We represent the leading global and European banks and other significant capital market players. AFME’s members are the lead underwriters of 89% of European corporate and sovereign debt, and 79% of European listed equity capital issuances.

Mission Statement
We advocate for deep, integrated, and sustainable capital markets which serve the needs of companies and investors, supporting economic growth and benefiting society.

Strategy Statement
AFME works to promote a robust, connected and competitive financial system in the EU, UK and globally.
  • Advocating for deep and liquid secondary markets. Placing greater focus on the role of well-functioning, diverse and competitive secondary market eco-systems to build a highly liquid, market-based funding capacity. This can, in turn, support businesses in raising funds and ensure investors can make cost-efficient transactions.

  • Pursuing changes that enable the European green and digital transformations. The scale of the transition that global economies need to undertake demands a large-scale mobilisation of capital. Policy makers can help to create the right conditions across Europe’s capital markets so that businesses and investors can benefit from technological developments and decarbonise supply chains.

  • Supporting the completion of the Banking Union and Capital Markets Union. These projects have the potential to improve financial stability; ensure alternative funding sources are available to finance economic recovery (independently of the economic cycle); and help towards reducing the costs of local ring-fencing facing EU banks.

  • Ensuring the connectivity of EU and UK financial markets with the rest of the world. Open, competitive and resilient financial systems thrive and improve stability. Integrated global markets enable the provision of efficient services to end-users. While regulatory fragmentation undermines the benefits that come with cooperation and coordination across jurisdictions.
Who We Are

How we work

AFME acts as a bridge between the wholesale financial markets, politicians, regulators and the public.
Our core activities consist of:

  • Advocacy - close dialogue with regulators to ensure that the industry's perspective is understood and carries weight
  • Policy development - applying our market expertise to assist formulation of EU and national legislation
  • Education - helping policymakers to understand the markets
  • Communication - developing content, convening debates
  • Co-ordination - bringing market participants and industry bodies to work together on the key issues for the sector
AFME divisions work with members, regulators, and policymakers to help develop a more sustainable and efficient financial industry.

Each division has a Board and/or Committee made up of members who guide its activities and take part in working groups, and informal discussions to respond to regulatory reform proposals and develop best practices.

What makes AFME different

  • Focus on wholesale banking issues
  • Direct participation by member firms, not an association of associations
  • Deep in-house expertise from highly qualified staff with market backgrounds.
Influence and credibility enhanced by:

  • Unique member-led committees that address wholesale financial industry topics from a market, prudential and policy perspective.
  • Expertise in producing evidence-based research and content, including: position papers, publications and events.
Membership