The Council of the European Union (EU) has expressed its support for the candidacy of the Italian Carlo Comporti to assume the presidency of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA, for its acronym in English), although the definitive appointment is still pending the approval of the European Parliament.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the member states to the EU (Coreper) has chosen Comporti as the preferred candidate. Following this decision, the rotating presidency of the Council --held by Ireland-- will formally convey the result to the European Parliament so that the designation procedure can proceed.
The election does not yet close the process, but it represents a decisive advance towards the leadership of the ESMA. The candidate proposed by Rome has prevailed over the Danish Karen Dortea Abelskov, obtaining 17 supports against the 10 achieved by her rival.
"My best wishes and congratulations to Carlo Comporti on his appointment to lead the ESMA. While the process has not yet concluded, today's decisive vote is a recognition of the person and of Italy. The ESMA plays a strategic role and is destined to develop in the future as a European Consob (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange)," stated the Italian Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti.
Comporti has been part of the Consob --the counterpart of the CNMV in Spain-- since February 2022 and has been a member of the board of directors of the ESMA since 2024. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in Italian and community supervisory authorities, in addition to serving in the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission.
"I am satisfied with today's result, which is the fruit of the working method we have adopted since the beginning of this legislature and confirms the new credibility of our country and our government in Europe," added the head of the economy portfolio of the Italian Government.