The European Commission published a legislative proposal for a regulation on European green bonds, which is supposed to become the high quality voluntary European Green Bond Standard. Its intention is to use the potential of the single market for achieving the EU’s climate and environmental goals in a more efficient way.
The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) created the International Sustainability Standards Board “to provide the global financial markets with high-quality disclosures on climate and other sustainability issues.” As part of its work, the ISSB published two exposure drafts on climate-related disclosures and geenral requirements for disclosure of sustainbility-related financial information.
The Corporate Sustainbility Reporting Directive mandates for the creation of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which require companies in scope to report on a full range of sustainbility information (environmental, social and governance). EFRAG is expected to deliver its final draft ESRS to the European Commission in November 2022. The standards are aimed at ensuring
The Banking Union initiative has reduced the number and magnitude of bank failures and the recourse to taxpayers’ money. However, up to now, it has been focused on prudential objectives, not on citizens as banking users’ protection. This has too often generated significant detriment to consumers of banking services.
Yesterday, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its report on high earners for 2017, available for the first time in a user-friendly format on the remuneration of “staff whose professional activities have a material impact on” the risk profile of the financial institution. The Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV) sets out principles for sound
Today, the European Commission has reported on the latest developments in risk reduction in the EU banking sector, as well as the progress towards an even more integrated and stable EU financial system. As outlined by the Commission, the risk reduction in the EU banking sector is continuing at a sustained pace, while financial stability
The effects of the 2008 financial crisis were supported by European citizens in their double quality as depositors and taxpayers. The overhaul of the banking sector (see article here) put mechanisms for prudential oversight and crisis resolution in place. Just one piece of legislation remains to be added to the European Single Rulebook: the European
To achieve a fully-fledged Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the E.U. must complete the Banking Union (BU) based on a harmonised, risk-sharing banking services sector. The last step remaining is the establishment of a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS, see here). A complete overhaul of the field is hard to obtain since a system resilient
Largely ignored, Slovenian investors suffer the consequences of the harshest bank rescue to date… The actual implementation of bail-in rules in the case of the Slovenian banks is hitting non-insider retail investors really hard, and does not give them a fair shot at recovering their damages three years after their savings in those banks’ subordinated
BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, has published a position paper on the European Commission’s Retail Investment Strategy (RIS) proposals. The organisation fully supports the EC’s RIS objectives: consistent rules, enhanced retail investor protection, unbiased advice, competitive financial markets, and transparent and comparable product information. The RIS constitutes a once-in-a-lifetime
On Wednesday 14 December, the United Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed Regulation Best Execution, seeking to establish a best execution regulatory framework mandating that securities brokers and dealers execute deals at the best price available. BETTER FINANCE, which itself has been highlighting the need for more transparent and fair European stock markets, applauds the
In June 2020, the Wirecard scandal unraveled, generating unprecedented retail investor detriment worth about €20 billion. BETTER FINANCE reacted, labelling it an “outrageous case of corporate governance, external auditing and supervisory failures”[1] and calling for an urgent reform of EU Audit Rules. The responsibility and liability of the external auditor is at stake. More than
Over the last two years, health-related restrictions and economic shutdowns had unforeseen effects on European capital markets. An increase in disposable income available for EU households to invest, and at least four and a half million[1] previously inactive EU savers now investing in the real economy and trading in financial instruments, has created a new
The European Union presented its new plan to renovate the structure of its stock markets. It’s the third wave of reforms since the project was launched six years ago. The EU has been working on the creation of a capital markets union (CMU), which has been affected by the UK’s departure after Brexit. One of
The EU Commission has announced to work on an audit reform in the aftermath of the Wirecard scandal. ” Wirecard has clearly illustrated what can happen if the three lines of defense – Internal Control System, good corporate governance incl. a strong Supervisory Board and the external audit fail to perform. This is a major issue
Back in November 2017 we formed an Alliance to voice our disappointment with the European Commission’s proposal for the review of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), and to make proposals to remedy the situation. The Alliance reiterated its main concerns in a joint statement in July 2018, following the report on the review by the
European Commission and MEPs warn regulator over watering down Priips performance scenarios decried as misleading EU lawmakers and regulators are at loggerheads over how to reform wildly misleading fund performance disclosures, dealing a blow to fund managers and consumer groups hoping for a reprieve from the much-maligned rules. […] Better Finance, an advocacy group representing
Back in November 2017, we formed an Alliance to voice our disappointment with the European Commission’s proposal for the review of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), and to make proposals to remedy the situation. The Alliance reiterated its main issues in a joint statement in July 2018 following the report on the review by the
We are writing to express serious concerns over the Council of the EU proposal for reforming the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and urge you to grant them real power related to consumer protection. The ESAs are at the heart of the European System of Financial Supervision, which should help to ensure that EU citizens are
Taking heed of the increasing importance of ESG factors within the global financial system, as well as the desire by individual investors to have access to socially responsible investment alternatives, Tree Top Asset Management launched their “fund that cares” on 24 April in cooperation with the King Baudouin Foundation. Introducing a new approach to responsible
BETTER FINANCE published its Annual Report for 2016. Access the document here
Today BETTER FINANCE launched the third edition of its annual examination of the returns on pension savings in the EU at a press conference at the Brussels Press Club. According to the 2014 European Commission’s consumer scoreboard, the market for investment and pension products continues to be the worst performing market in Europe. As the new
On April 9 the European Commission unveiled its proposals for the review of the Shareholders Rights Directive in order to adopt measures to improve the corporate governance of around 10 000 companies listed on Europe’s stock exchanges. Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said that the last few years had shown “how short-termism damages European companies and the economy”. A
BETTER FINANCE and other European organisations representing savers and financial users were quite disappointed by today’s «Consumer Protection Day » jointly organised by the three European financial Supervisory Authorities (Securities & Markets, Insurance & Pensions and Banking). Please read here the press release.
BETTER FINANCE generally strongly supports the Commission’s proposals for amendments to the Shareholders Rights Directive regarding long-term Shareholder engagement. Read here the concrete BETTER FINANCE requests to further improve the European Commission’s proposals.
Today BETTER FINANCE launched the third edition of its annual examination of the returns on pension savings in the EU at a press conference at the Brussels Press Club. According to the 2014 European Commission’s consumer scoreboard, the market for investment and pension products continues to be the worst performing market in Europe. As the new
A little while ago, on October 3, the European Commission launched a consultation inviting stakeholders to share their views on Crowdfunding. Being an issue of growing importance not only for the EU economy as a whole but especially for retail investors and other financial services users, EuroFinUse welcomes this initiative and presented its response. EuroFinUse
At FEE’s Roundtable on "How to improve the functioning of audit committees further" , which took place on 5 February, around a 100 participants including European policymakers, audit committee members, investors, professional accountants and auditors and regulators discussed further improvements of the functioning of audit committees to help identify and shape good practices. EuroFinuse President, Jella
3 August 2017, Roma – The procedure whereby the Italian State has expropriated 150,000 small shareholders of their property rights on the Monte dei Paschi di Siena is now completed. We remind that the Bank has always been complying with supervision duties and solvency standards. There is no relief mechanism for individual shareholders who are