27/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 27 March, MEPs meeting in plenary session adopted (474 votes in favour, 121 against, 10 abstentions) their position on the proposal for a regulation to facilitate crowdfunding at first reading. The vote did not change the content of the report by Ashley Fox (ECR, UK) adopted on 5 November 2018 (see EUROPE 12130/3). The European Commission's original proposal provided for a European passport to allow crowdfunding platforms, upon request, to provide their services throughout Europe, subject to prior authorisation from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). The MEPs, for their part, voted in favour of renationalising the framework. In the EU Council, a political agreement in principle is, however, not yet in sight. The working party on financial services met on 20 March to continue its examination of the text. (MF)