Regulatory Watch News

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  Publication of a vacancy notice for the position of Europol Executive Director

  Europol

  February 17, 2026

  Europol, the European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, today announced a vacancy notice for the position of Executive Director. Europol is the EU's key agency in the fight against serious and organised crime, terrorism, and other threats to the EU's security.

  Catherine De Bolle has served as Europol’s Executive Director since 1 May 2018, her mandate will conclude on 1 May 2026. The incoming Executive Director will have the opportunity to shape Europol's future and strengthen its role in safeguarding the European Union’s internal security.

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  DORA – Submission timeframe for register of information for third-country branches of credit institutions having their head office in a third country

  CSSF

  February 17, 2026

  As indicated in the CSSF communiqué of 11 February 2026, with the publication of Q&A DORA102 – 3097 on the applicability of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA) to third-country branches, the ESAs clarified that third-country branches of credit institutions having their head office in a third country, have to submit a register of information to the CSSF.

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  Call for evidence on ownership and control in financial sanctions regulations

  OFSI

  February 16, 2026

  OFSI has launched a call for evidence to seek industry’s views on how UK financial sanctions regulations on ownership and control are applied in practice, including how firms implement the regulations and where they face challenges.   

  The ownership and control test is designed to stop sanctioned individuals and entities from sidestepping UK sanctions by hiding behind complex company structures, trusts or proxies. However, industry representatives report to OFSI that assessing the ability of a designated person to control an entity – even if they are not actively doing so – can be difficult in practice and may create additional costs and legal risk.