“The Savings and Investment Union” (SIU) is a key political priority, as the EU looks to compete with China and the U.S. This EU initiative aims to achieve two objectives: scaling up equity for innovative firms and mobilizing private savings to strengthen Europe’s strategic economic sectors – clean tech, digital, and defense.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde highlighted the urgency of this effort at the January World Economic Forum, stating “We need a Banking Union, we need a Capital Markets Union (CMU), we need to keep the talent and the savings at home”1.
But what will this project truly entail? And will it breathe fresh life into existing pushes for the EU’s Capital Markets and Banking Unions, or will it fall into familiar debates with little progress?
Guiding questions to be addressed include:
- Is the shift to a SIU a game-changer for Europe’s competitiveness?
- Will it make the long-stalled CMU a reality across the bloc?
- With investments at the core of the Letta and Draghi reports, how will the new mandate turn plans to boost pan-European investments into actions? What regulatory tools can make a real impact?
- Does the EU’s push for competitiveness conflict with its financial stability goals
- How can financial stability risks be managed while still encouraging growth?
Following pivotal elections in Germany and an uncertain geopolitical context, this POLITICO Live event brings together EU and national policymakers, along with and financial experts, for a candid discussion on the future of the Savings and Investment Union, its impact on competitiveness, and how Europe can balance financial stability with growth.