EFAMA's Director General, Tanguy van de Werve, was interviewed by the CEO of Luxembourg for Finance, Nicolas Mackel, for the latest episode of their Shaping Finance podcast. They discussed hurdles that still need to be addressed in the area of sustainable finance, the importance of increasing retail investor participation in capital markets and other CMU-related issues.

Other issues discussed include the role of the investment management industry in the post Covid-19 recovery and the 'build back better'. As well as the role of ESMA in further promoting supervisory convergence. 

Asset managers unleash the vast potential of sustainable finance by channelling capital into ESG investments and engaging with investee companies to improve their sustainability profile and foster long-term prosperity.

To strengthen the asset managers' role in financing the green transition, EFAMA contributes to the development and implementation of the EU Sustainable Finance agenda. This includes initiatives to fight greenwashing, increase transparency, improve the flow of ESG data and integrate sustainability in corporate governance.
 

With European government no longer able to provide financial security to support citizens in later years, saving for retirement is key. Individuals need to save enough for retirement to ensure adequate income in old age.

EFAMA helps by raising awareness of the importance of saving for retirement and encouraging European authorities to further modernise relevant EU legislation. This includes strengthening competition in the occupational and personal pension markets, and fostering cross-border activities of pension providers and asset managers. Such legislation should seek to create economies of scale, to benefit savers. 
 

Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) serving the needs of European citizens and businesses is as ambitious as it is essential: the effort will enable pensioners and savers to share in the upside of Europe’s economic recovery. In the process, European capital markets also become more efficient and better integrated. This long-term vision is key to financing European innovation and to supporting the transition towards a more sustainable economy.

Increasing retail investors’ participation in capital markets is an essential component for building an effective CMU. EFAMA relentlessly advocates for effective disclosure rules and consumer empowerment. 
 

To remain competitive and at the forefront of innovation, Europe must be open to cross-border flows of knowledge, ideas, capital and investment. The benefit in doing so ultimately accrues to European citizens and businesses.

While Europe rightly strives for high regulatory standards, rules need to be well calibrated, so Europe can partake in global competition on a level playing field. EFAMA's policy work consistently advocates for a dynamic regulatory environment, which enables European financial markets to remain globally competitive.