The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) is heir to a long tradition of stock market regulation, with clear-cut principles governing investor protection, information and transparency. In addition, it has taken on the important role that the French regulator has always played in the work of international bodies. This role is especially important today, because financial markets are closely integrated and require international standards that are precise, cogent and properly transposed into law. The same applies at the European level. The formation in 2001 of the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) has given additional responsibilities to regulatory agencies, which are now charged with recommending technical rules to the European Commission so as to ensure harmonised implementation of EU directives.

Coinciding with the creation of the AMF, the passage of the Financial Security Act will allow France to be represented by a single agency on international regulatory bodies, thereby enhancing efficiency. Moreover, under the Act, the AMF's role in the international and European regulation of financial markets has been enshrined as a "mission".

The AMF is an active member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), CESR, the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) and the Institut Francophone de la Régulation Financière (IFREFI). It also takes part in numerous international initiatives to improve and enhance financial market regulation.

The AMF works on a bilateral basis with more than 30 European and international regulatory agencies under cooperation and information-sharing agreements.

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