The European post-trading system has changed significantly in the last years and is currently facing enormous challenges, e.g. due to the financial crisis, stricter regulation of financial markets, globalization, and the automation of securities processing. Until now, a systematic assessment of the European post-trading industry is missing in academic literature. Using the Delphi methodology, this study among 158 experts from different areas of the post-trading industry aims to develop a joint and coherent view of what the European post-trading system will look like in the future. It identifies measures for the improvement of the post-trading system and the most important issues concerning risk management and information technologies within this industry.