On 14 December 2016, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) added ICE Clear US Inc. to its list of recognised third-country central counterparties (CCPs) under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). EMIR requires EU-based CCPs to be authorised and non-EU CCPs to be recognised in the European Union (EU). Once a CCP has been authorised or recognised within the EU, EU firms can use these CCP to fulfil their clearing obligations.