BRITAIN plans to buttress the City of London’s global competitiveness and openness once it moves outside the European Union (EU) with new financial services sector legislation.

Although Britain left the EU in January, its unfettered access to the bloc for banks and other financial firms does not end until December, when transition arrangements expire.

John Glen, Britain’s financial services minister, said Monday that new Financial Services Bill would create a modern, flexible and robust system of financial regulation.

“It will underpin the continued global competitiveness of the U.K. financial services sector by enhancing its world leading prudential standards, promoting openness to international markets and maintaining the effectiveness of financial services regulatory framework and sound capital markets,” Glen said.

The reference to world leading prudential standards will reassure regulators in Britain who have cautioned about being given a formal remit to maintain the competitiveness of London as a global financial center when writing new rules, fearing it would weaken standards.

Christopher Woolard, due to stand down as interim CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority, said the highest international standards and doing what is right for markets were not mutually exclusive.

“Maintaining a strong and robust regulatory and supervisory system, and our commitment to achieving the highest international standards, go hand in hand with the United kingdom’s position as a global financial centre,” Woolard told City Week.

The EU, the City of London’s biggest customer, has said it will give U.K. clearing houses temporary access but will not allow banks in London to offer services directly to customers in the bloc, forcing them to shift activities to new EU hubs.(SD-Agencies)