Recital 1

(1)Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 empowers the Commission to lay down rules of procedure for the exercise of the power to impose fines or periodic penalty payments by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) upon trade repositories and persons involved in trade repositories. In the application of this Regulation, account should be taken of ESMA's organisational rules laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council ² , including, in particular, the delegation of certain clearly defined tasks and decisions to internal committees or panels in accordance with Article 41 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, whilst fully respecting the rights of defence of persons subject to investigation and the principle of collegiality that governs ESMA's operations.