
INVITATION: “Crossborder Financial Services – Is this the End?”
5 May @ 2:00 pm - 6:30 pm

After timid attempts to liberalize cross-border financial services by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), strong headwind has emerged over the last decade. It has reached a new peak with the Regulation on Markets for Crypto-Assets (MiCA) which makes it virtually impossible for third-country firms to service EU clients without an EU subsidiary. It is likely that the current geopolitical turmoil will further increase market fragmentations. Switzerland as a leading center for cross-border asset management, including crypto-asset services, is particularly affected.
In order to take stock and to discuss the strategic options for Switzerland, the Center for Financial Market Regulation at the University of Zurich together with the European Banking Institute (Frankfurt) is organizing a half-day seminar with the title “Crossborder Financial Services – Is this the End?”. After a review of the current state of EU law and its compatibility with GATS commitments of member states, the Berne Financial Services Agreement between Switzerland and the UK as a ray of hope for free trade in financial services will be analyzed. The seminar will also discuss strategic options for Switzerland and conclude with a call for action and a panel discussion.
The seminar is free of charge but requires registration: http://www.finreg.uzh.ch/events or forumfinreg@ius.uzh.ch.
Registration deadline: Friday, 2 May 2025.