Article 1, Point (2), Point (a) · Directive (EU) 2024/2811

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(a)the following paragraphs are inserted:‘3a.Research produced by investment firms or by third parties and used by, or distributed to, investment firms, their clients or potential clients, shall be fair, clear and not misleading. Research shall be clearly identifiable as such or in similar terms, provided that all conditions laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/565^note applicable to the research are met.3b.Investment firms providing portfolio management or other investment services or ancillary services shall ensure that the research they distribute to clients or potential clients which is paid for, in full or in part, by an issuer shall be labelled as “issuer-sponsored research” only if it is produced in compliance with the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research referred to in paragraph 3c.3c.ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to establish an EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research. That code of conduct shall set out standards of independence and objectivity, and specify procedures and measures for the effective identification, prevention and disclosure of conflicts of interest.In developing the regulatory technical standards on the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research, ESMA shall take into account the content and parameters of codes of conduct for issuer-sponsored research which have been established at national level prior to the date of application of the regulatory technical standards, especially where such codes have been widely endorsed and adhered to. ESMA shall also, where applicable, take into account the relevant obligations and standards on investment recommendations set out in Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 5 December 2025.Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Directive by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.The EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research shall be made publicly available on ESMA’s website.ESMA shall assess at least every five years following the adoption of the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, whether the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research needs to be amended, in which case it shall submit draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission.Member States shall provide that investment firms that produce or distribute issuer-sponsored research have in place organisational arrangements to ensure that such research is produced in compliance with the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research and complies with paragraphs 3a, 3b and 3e.3d.Member States shall ensure that any issuer may submit its issuer-sponsored research, as referred to in paragraph 3b of this Article, to the relevant collection body as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 of the European Parliament and of the Council^note.When submitting that research to the collection body, the issuer shall ensure that it is accompanied by metadata specifying that the information complies with the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research. Such research shall not be considered to be regulated information within the meaning of Directive 2004/109/EC nor investment research within the meaning of this Directive and shall therefore not be subject to the same level of regulatory scrutiny as regulated information or investment research.3e.Research that is labelled as “issuer-sponsored research” shall indicate on its front page in a clear and prominent way that it has been prepared in accordance with the EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research. Any other research material paid, in full or in part by the issuer but not prepared in compliance with that EU code of conduct for issuer-sponsored research shall be labelled as a marketing communication.