ESMA publishes EMIR 3 Active Account Requirement reporting templates

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has published the reporting templates and accompanying instructions for the Active Account Requirement (AAR) reporting under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR 3).

The new templates set out in detail how entities subject to the AAR should report the required information to their competent authorities. By defining the structure and content of AAR reports, ESMA seeks to support a harmonised and efficient reporting framework across the European Union.

According to ESMA, the templates and instructions are intended to provide standardised formats and clear guidance for reporting entities. This is designed to facilitate consistent supervisory practices among national competent authorities and to promote comparability of the data submitted under the AAR. The publication forms part of the broader implementation of EMIR 3, which introduces the Active Account Requirement as a specific reporting obligation.

Reporting timetable and reference periods

The first AAR reporting submission is expected on 31 July 2026. This initial report will cover the period from 25 June 2025, when the AAR became applicable, to 30 June 2026. Entities in scope of the AAR will be required to collect and report information for this entire reference period in accordance with the published templates and instructions.

Following the initial submission, AAR reporting will move to a semi-annual schedule. Reports will be due on 31 January and 31 July each year, with each submission covering a twelve-month reference period. This recurring timetable is intended to provide regular and structured information flows to competent authorities, supporting ongoing supervision of compliance with the Active Account Requirement.

Objective of the new templates

Through the introduction of these templates and instructions, ESMA aims to ensure that all entities subject to the AAR apply a consistent approach when preparing and submitting their reports. The standardised documentation is designed to reduce discrepancies in reporting practices across member states and to enhance the efficiency of regulatory oversight under EMIR 3.

The publication of the AAR reporting templates marks a further step in the operationalisation of the Active Account Requirement, providing market participants and supervisors with a clear framework ahead of the first reporting deadline in July 2026.