Criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation

This procedure aims to establish minimum rules for criminal sanctions across the EU to combat insider dealing and market manipulation. By harmonizing penalties, the EU seeks to ensure that financial crimes are punished consistently across all member states, preventing 'forum shopping' and strengthening the integrity of financial markets.

This will primarily affect financial professionals, investors, and companies operating on stock exchanges. It introduces stricter legal consequences for those who misuse confidential information or manipulate market prices to gain an unfair advantage.