20/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission decided on Thursday 20 December to extend the equivalence of Swiss stock exchanges by six months until 30 June 2019, in accordance with the trading requirement of the Regulation on markets in financial instruments, it announced in a press release. This decision, announced on 17 December (see EUROPE 12161), was supported by all Member States following a consultation. In its decision, the Commission took into account the negotiations of the Institutional Framework Agreement and the decision of the Federal Council to launch a consultation on this agreement, which will take place until spring 2019. "Our objective remains the effective and rapid signature of the Institutional Framework Agreement. The temporary extension of equivalence should give Switzerland the necessary time to conduct its internal consultation on this agreement,” said Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President in charge of Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, quoted in the statement. (SP)