The EU's financial markets watchdog, Esma, seeks expanded powers to oversee major stock exchanges and critical financial infrastructure, aiming to become a European equivalent of the SEC. Chair Verena Ross emphasized the need for central supervision to enhance market efficiency, particularly for cross-border players, while acknowledging concerns from smaller EU nations about potential impacts on their financial sectors. The transition would be gradual, focusing initially on larger entities, with a call for improved governance to strengthen Esma's independence from national authorities.