BETTER FINANCE welcomes this unique initiative from EIOPA as an example of best practice in terms of supervision and investor protection, not only at the EU level but on the global regulatory scene, especially given the architecture of the distribution market for retail investment products. EU savers have been slowly diverted from direct investments towards
BETTER FINANCE believes that the main challenges and opportunities for next 10 years will be: Reorienting the equity and bond funding towards sustainable investments. The identification of sustainable investments must be based on facts and science, not on emotions and ideologies, and on the probability to have a positive impact on the environment, society and
Below please find the European Commission Reply to the Open Letter by BETTER FINANCE and its members against any postponement of the implementation of the Shareholder Rights Directive II.
Traditionally, in most EU Member States, people count on the state-based pension. Only in big companies occupational pension schemes are accepted more broadly if not compulsory. In many Members States, personal pension products are little used because of complexity, high fees, not transparent contract clauses and recently the low interest rate phase, which reduces the
BETTER FINANCE REPLY TO THE CONSULTATION PAPER ON THE PROPOSAL FOR GUIDELINES UNDER THE INSURANCE DISTRIBUTION DIRECTIVE ON INSURANCE-BASED INVESTMENT PRODUCTS THAT INCORPORATE A STRUCTURE WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO UNDERSTAND THE RISKS INVOLVED
BETTER FINANCE provides its response to the joint consultation launched by ESMA and EBA.
BETTER FINANCE took part in the consultation on the Potential Harmonization of Recovery and and Resolution Frameworks for Insurers launched by EIOPA ( European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority). With this consultation, EIOPA will develop its view on harmonising recovery and resolution frameworks for insurers and might publish an Opinion addressed to the EU institutions.
BETTER FINANCE provides its response to ESMA’s Consultation on the draft guidelines on MiFID governance requirements.
BETTER FINANCE keenly supports the European Commission’s proposal to launch a Pan-European Personal Pension product (PEPP) as a key component of the Capital Markets Union (CMIU) initiative. The extreme fragmentation of the numerous EU markets in Personal Pension Products (PPP) hampers the development of badly needed economies of scale. BETTER FINANCE strongly doubts that any
BETTER FINANCE keenly supports the European Commission’s proposal to launch a Pan-European Personal Pension product (PEPP) as a key component of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) initiative. The extreme fragmentation of the numerous EU markets in Personal Pension Products (PPP) hampers the development of badly needed economies of scale. BETTER FINANCE strongly doubts that any
The European Commission has issued the Delegated Act on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to enhance transparency in sustainability reporting by companies. However, it faces criticism for weakening key aspects of the initial proposal by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) and neglecting vital concerns. Critics
The practice of greenwashing, or marketing a product as environmentally friendly, when in fact basic environmental standards have not been met, can take many forms including misleading labels and unsubstantiated/vague claims, meaningless catchwords, etc. with the aim of making a product or company seem greener and more socially responsible than it really is, amounting to
According to the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) recent study on the EU Eco-label awarded to green retail financial products and services, only 16 funds out of a sample of 3000 meet the proposed minimum portfolio greenness threshold of 50% and exclusion requirements. In view of these findings, the supervisor has suggested loosening requirements
The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives proposed by the European Commission in December 2019 to make Europe climate neutral, i.e. to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
Klimawandel anpacken! | Investieren und engagieren, um #greenwashing zu vermeiden
In this video you can learn about greenwashing and how to prevent engaging in such practices. It also provides useful information on measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of investments.
GREAT RETURNS FOR GREAT VALUES What is sustainable investing? Any investment that seeks to incorporate sustainability elements alongside financial returns. The basic tenet of sustainability refers to ESG factors (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and has been used as a base for sustainable services, products and other investment activity. In the case of financial products, for
“The European Union’s watchdog has ruled the European Commission failed to adequately consider conflicts of interest when it appointed BlackRock Investment Management, the world’s second largest investor in fossil fuels, to advise on environmental regulations for the banking sector.” […] “In the report published this week, O’Reilly concluded the Commission needed to better police conflict
The green bond market has been growing rapidly in the recent years. But several issues are affecting this market and eroding investor confidence in this financial instrument. Ensuring transparency on the underlying assets is fundamental for this market to reach scale and its objectives. Specific and credible guidelines on how to identify and classify green
POLITICO reports that on 10 April EU finance ministers approved the “terms of reference” in which they pledge “to raise the subjects of carbon and energy taxes” in the various international meetings that will take place over the course of next week with the aim of building a coordinated response to the corona crisis. Rather
The document serves as BETTER FINANCE response to selected questions of ESMA’s discussion paper on the implications of digitalisation for investor protection under MiFID II. The document “Discussion Paper on MiFID II investor protection topics linked to digitalisation” provided by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) focuses on various aspects of digitalisation in the
The resources are aimed to inform on consumer credits, loans and other financial services legislations.
“BETTER FINANCE together with ShareAction, the German Association of the Insured BdV, Urgewald and WWF European Policy Office react to the Solvency II review on related sustainability requirements. Solvency II, the legislative framework for EU insurers, is currently under review. Solvency II, introduced in 2016, laid the foundations for a harmonised, sound, and robust prudential
The European Federation of investors and Financial Services Users fully supports the clear stated objectives of the European Union’s very welcome “Retail Investor Strategy”. ENSURE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN SECTORAL LEGISLATION The European Commission’s stated goal for the EU Strategy for Retail Investors (RIS) is to: ”ensure that (…) rules are coherent across legal
ESMA Consultation Paper Guidelines on certain aspects of the MiFID II suitability requirements. BETTER FINANCE highlights that the new concepts introduced by the recent regulatory amendments may be difficult to understand by individual, non-professional investors, creating the risk for them to avoid making a decision or making a wrong decision. In this sense, we suggest
INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATIONS (for non-professional readers) European Union (EU) authorities aim to improve the conditions of saving and investing in capital markets for EU households through several regulatory and supervisory actions. Currently, most of these initiatives stem from the recommendations of the High-Level Forum on the Future of the Capital Markets Union,[1] on which the European
BETTER FINANCE screened available evidence (literature, surveys, experiments, and statistical data) comparing the impact of allowing the receipt of “inducements” by distributors or brokers of “retail” investment services and products, versus banning it. Two jurisdictions in Europe already banned the receipt of commissions for the distribution of retail investment products: the United Kingdom, since 2012,
BETTER FINANCE presents its Evidence Paper on Banning Inducements in retail investment services. BETTER FINANCE screened available evidence (literature, surveys, experiments, and data) on the effects of allowing vs banning the receipt of inducements by distributors of retail investment services and products. Inducements designate remunerations, such as commissions or kickbacks, paid by third-party financial firms to
In the study about the Solvency and Financial Condition Reports (SFCRs) – that have to be disclosed under the Solvency II Directive (Art. 51) – we take a closer look at eight different figures that are calculated and rated: Transparency, expressed on a point scale (from -2 to 19); Solvency ratio, expressed as a percentage
With the termination of the intra-EU bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in 2020 – which received significant criticism for overlapping with the EU single market rules – the EC launched an initiative to improve the investor protection and facilitation framework at EU level. This initiative was reiterated in the new Capital Markets Union (CMU) Action Plan
The Retail Investment Strategy (RIS) compromise currently on the table for a European Parliament vote blatantly disregards the interests of retail investors and the establishment of a competitive Capital Markets Union (CMU). Should Ms Yon-Courtin’s proposed compromise be approved by the ECON committee on 20th March and subsequently put to a plenary vote one month
BETTER FINANCE endorses the FSUG’s call for improved ‘Value for Money’ in retail investments. The focus is on enhancing the effectiveness of packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs) to contribute significantly to investors’ financial well-being. The FSUG emphasises the responsibility of product manufacturers to design products that boost investors’ financial wealth and urges supervisors
⬇️ Read or download BETTER FINANCE’s Individual Investors’ Key Priorities for 2024-2029 below. ⬇️ Let’s harness the Capital Markets Union’s (CMU) potential to benefit our citizens as financial consumers, retail investors and pension savers, as well as our planet, the economy, and for future generations. This will ensure Europe’s prosperity and security in a rapidly
DG FISMA will be organising a roundtable on January 25th, 2024 at 10:00, where Aleksandra Maczynska, Acting Managing Director at BETTER FINANCE will address the panel on ‘Opportunities from a shorter settlement cycle in the EU’.
The Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) started applying in March 2021 and requires financial market participants and financial advisers to disclose at entity and product levels how they integrate sustainability risks and principal adverse impacts in their processes at both entity and product levels. It also introduces additional product disclosures for sustainable financial products making
BETTER FINANCE is pleased to announce a new collaboration with SASV (Schweizerischer Anlegerschutzverein), the Swiss Investor Protection Association, further expanding its pan-European network. SASV is dedicated to promoting transparency within the Swiss capital market and advancing investor rights. This partnership with BETTER FINANCE aims to bolster the representation of Swiss individual investors and shareholders on
Brussels, 14 December 2023 – On December 11th, the BETTER FINANCE Scientific Council convened to discuss next year’s research program and to elect a new chairperson. The Council recommended that BETTER FINANCE continues to build on the extensive research conducted by the team and expressed support for the 2024 research program, including further research on
The Lithuanian Investors Association and BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, are organising the annual BETTER FINANCE International Investors’ Conference, scheduled to take place in Vilnius on May 30, 2024. The conference, titled “Vilnius 2024 | Shaping the Future of Finance,” will delve into various topics encompassing European and Baltic
Date: Wednesday, 17 April 2024 | Time: 14h00 – 18h00 | Place: University Foundation, 11 Rue d’Egmont, 1000 Brussels PROGRAMME 13h30 – 14h00 | Registration & Coffee 14h00 – 14h10 | Welcome | Aleksandra Mączyńska, Acting Managing Director, BETTER FINANCE 14h10 – 14h30 | Keynote Speech | José Manuel Campa, Chair, European Banking Authority (EBA)
The “Swiss Association for the Protection of Investors” (Schweizerische Anlegerschutzverein) is committed to transparency on the Swiss capital market and the promotion and enforcement of investor rights in Switzerland. Its purpose is to protect the interests of investors with regard to financial investments and to support them in the enforcement of their corporate and economic