Mission Statement of the Financial Market Authority

The FMA is an independent, autonomous and integrated supervisory authority for the Austrian financial market, established as an institution under public law. It is responsible for supervising credit institutions, payment institutions, insurance undertakings, Pensionskassen (pension companies), corporate provision funds, investment funds, licensed investment service providers, credit rating agencies and stock exchanges, as well as for prospectus supervision. The FMA is also responsible for monitoring trading in listed securities to ensure that it is carried out properly and for monitoring issuers’ compliance with information and organisation obligations. Further tasks include combating the unauthorised provision of financial services and taking preventive action against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The FMA is an integral part of the European System of Financial Supervisors (ESFS) and represents Austria in the relevant European institutions, closely cooperating with the network of supervisors and actively contributing to its work.

The aims of the FMA are:

• to contribute towards the stability of Austria as a financial market;
• to reinforce confidence in the ability of the Austrian financial market to function;
• to protect in accordance with provisions of law investors, creditors and consumers; and
• to put forth preventive efforts with respect to compliance with supervisory standards while consistently punishing any violations of these standards.

In order to achieve these aims:

• the FMA monitors and takes any measures necessary to ensure compliance with provisions of law;
• the FMA defines minimum standards and publishes regulations putting legal provisions into concrete terms;
• in dialogue with market participants the FMA works out proposals for ensuring that the Austrian financial market permanently adheres to high standards;
• the FMA represents Austria's interests in the EU and other international bodies and supports cooperation with other supervisory authorities;
• the FMA utilises and further develops modern analysis systems;
• the FMA places great emphasis on employing highly qualified and motivated staff as well as deploying the most modern technology; and
• its staff works as a team towards solving problems in a holistic manner so as to accomplish its integrated supervisory tasks efficiently and effectively.

We as staff members of the FMA identify with these aims and base our actions on the values of independence and objectivity. We fulfil our commission with confidence and in the knowledge of the significance of our efforts for the Austrian financial market.