Capital Markets Union
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. Improving access to financial and non-financial information and addressing the high data costs our industry is encountering, are also important steps towards a functioning CMU. All this, while maintaining and improving the attractiveness of the European investment management sector in today's global environment.
EFAMA prepared a list of key actions that are required to reach the CMU objectives from an investor perspective. We have also developed a specific Key Performance Indicator to measure year-on-year progress towards increasing retail participation in capital markets in each member state.
Joint letter on the international competitiveness of the financial services sector
Policy Recommendations for the Next European Commission
Joint EU Trade Associations' views on ‘Review of the European System of Financial Supervision’
An appropriately constructed Consolidated Tape could help to build deeper and more open capital markets in Europe
EFAMA and EFSA welcome the publication of a Market Structure Partners Study on the Creation of an EU Consolidated Tape which addresses the challenges, demand, benefits and proposed architecture for consolidating European financial market data.
An ambitious CMU Action Plan that will need strong political support from Member States
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) that serves the needs of European citizens and businesses is an ambitious yet, essential - project that requires a long-term political vision, determination and perseverance.
The new CMU Action Plan adopted today by the European Commission, which largely builds on the recommendation of the CMU High-Level Forum, is a milestone in the journey towards the realisation of this ambition for Europe.
EFAMA calls for use of KPIs to monitor national progress in household participation in capital markets
EFAMA has today published a report entitled 'Household Participation in Capital Markets Assessing the current state and measuring future progress'. This publication precedes the European Commission's forthcoming new Action Plan on the Capital Markets Union (CMU). It includes ten concrete policy recommendations to help advance the CMU, including the introduction of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to monitor progress in household participation in capital markets.
The Capital Flywheel
The European Capital Markets Report is a joint initiative authored by Oliver Wyman and co-developed by EFAMA, the European Banking Federation (EBF) and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE). This report reviews progress made towards the CMU and provides recommendations on how to improve the competitiveness of European capital markets.
Unlocking private investment to fund Europe's triple transitions
EFAMA’s publication lays out the asset management sector’s policy priorities for the next five years, building on the in-depth expertise of our members. This includes practical recommendations for keeping Europe competitive and developing deeper, more integrated and liquid capital markets in Europe.
The recommendations focus around four main objectives:
Household Participation in Capital Markets
This report analyses the progress made in recent years by European households in allocating more of their financial wealth to capital market instruments (pension plans, life insurance, investment funds, debt securities and listed shares) and less in cash and bank deposits. It also includes policy recommendations on improving retail participation in capital markets, including for the Retail Investment Strategy currently under discussion.
Some key findings include: