It is important to recognise the need for competent authorities to receive complete information about the purpose, structure and organisation of multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) and organised trading facilities (OTFs) that they will be required to supervise in order to ensure the efficient and orderly functioning of financial markets.

The information received by competent authorities should ensure collecting detailed descriptions of the functioning of the MTF or OTF under Directive 2014/65/EU in a uniform manner, and achieve an efficient processing of information for existing MTFs already operating in accordance with a national authorisation at the point in time when the requirement of submitting a detailed description comes into force.

Since SME growth markets are distinguished from other MTFs in that they are subject to additional rules under Directive 2014/65/EU, it is necessary that SME growth markets provide additional information.

Since OTFs are distinguished from MTFs in that the trading process may involve the use of discretionary rules by the operator and because the operator of an OTF will owe responsibilities to users of the system, OTFs should provide additional information.

To ensure efficient processing, the information required should be provided in electronic format.

To facilitate the publication by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) of the list of all MTFs and OTFs in the Union accompanied by information on the services they provide and the unique code identifying them, a standard template for that information should be used.

For reasons of consistency and in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the financial markets, it is necessary that the provisions laid down in this Regulation and the related national provisions transposing Directive 2014/65/EU apply from the same date.

This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by ESMA to the Commission.