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Brussels has approved plans for the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP). Eugen Teodorovici, Minister for Finance of Romania told Funds Europe that “Under the new rules, PEPPs will have the same standard features wherever they are sold”. PEPP savers will not only be able to choose from a broad range of providers but will also

The German investor association DSW, a member organisation of BETTER FINANCE, is examining the possibility of legal proceedings in Germany on the grounds that VW violated its duty to immediately disclose all information regarding the manipulation of emissions and the ensuing fallout. Since the issue is clearly not limited to Germany, DSW is also examining

European public pension schemes are under great strain as a consequence of a greying population and the financial crisis. In order to address this problem, governments are looking into promoting supplementary forms of retirement income. Many issues arise from this that need to be addressed by European policy makers whose legislative decisions directly affect the

The German investor association DSW, a member organisation of BETTER FINANCE, is examining the possibility of legal proceedings in Germany on the grounds that VW violated its duty to immediately disclose all information regarding the manipulation of emissions and the ensuing fallout. Since the issue is clearly not limited to Germany, DSW is also examining

BETTER FINANCE supports FSUG’s COP28 statement, calling on the European Commission to ensure the green transition burden isn’t solely on citizens and communities. ⬇️ Read the full statement below ⬇️

BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, has released its Pensions Report 2023, uncovering the dire challenges confronting long-term and pension savers across 17 EU Member States in the aftermath of a tumultuous 2022. In what is termed an “annus horribilis,” the report exposes the setbacks faced by savers, with disastrous

On 2 March 2023, BETTER FINANCE was one of the two organisations representing individual investors and financial users invited by the European Commission (together with 5 financial industry representatives) to address representatives of EU Member States at a “Government Expert Group on Retail Financial Services” meeting in Brussels on the Commission’s initiative of a “Retail

Faced with the risk of “regulatory capture”, six civil society co-signatories representing “small” savers and “minority” investors call on the President of the French Republic to reconsider the governance of the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) The representatives of “l’Association Éthique et Investissement”, FAIR, Deontofi, RéseauCEP, “l’Association pour le Patrimoine et l’Actionnariat Individuel” and the “Fédération

For a long time considered a model of German success story, the online payment company Wirecard collapsed in 2020 in a dramatic and scandalous bankruptcy, tarnishing the reputation of the political class and financial control authorities. This Thursday, the trial of the former president of Wirecard and two other managers opens in Munich. An alleged

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

After the 2023 AGM season and looking ahead to the 2024 season, BETTER FINANCE and its member organisations voice concerns about the erosion of shareholder rights. Inadequate rules for Virtual Annual General Meetings (AGMs) in some Member States highlight the need for broader engagement and representation frameworks for investors to truly benefit from digitalisation. The

In a recent Financial Times article, Guillaume Prache, Senior advisor at BETTER FINANCE, criticizes the use of Article 8 funds in sustainable investing. He argues that increasing the minimum sustainable investment percentage in these funds is ineffective and prone to greenwashing. These funds often oversimplify sustainability as mere ‘green activities’ and predominantly use an exclusion

Transition investing refers to capital needed to improve economic activities, that are not environmentally friendly at present. Such capital supports the development of innovation and infrastructure, enabling current activities to eventually achieve climate neutrality. The European Commission’s release of the transition finance ‘Recommendation’[1] emphasised the importance of such investments for Europe’s pursuit of environmentally conscious

BETTER FINANCE, alongside other NGOs, urges members of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee to ensure that the new ESG Regulation improves the reliability, comparability and transparency of ESG Ratings in the EU and in particular to: 1. mandate ESG ratings to follow a double materiality approach, therefore taking into consideration companies’ exposure to ESG

BETTER FINANCE members UK Shareholders’ Association and ShareSoc (UK Individual Shareholders Society) published a letter expressing disappointment in the news that the UK government is abandoning some of its reforms to accounting standards: It is difficult to overstate the disappointment of investors, and other users of corporate information, at the news that the UK government

BETTER FINANCE welcomes the horizontal and vertical dimensions represented in the objectives of the taxonomy. Furthermore, we would like to suggest expanding the horizontal dimension based on the promotion of gender equality which should not be based only on the gender pay gap but also on freedom of expression, assembly, etc.

Retail investors are increasingly concerned about the impact of their investment decisions on society and the environment. In recent years, European Union (EU) institutions have amended the legislation regarding the distribution of retail investment products by investment firms–the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II)–and related delegated legislation and guidelines to define how investment firms

10 February 2023 | As EU policymakers continue their negotiations on the MiFIR review, BETTER FINANCE is increasingly alarmed that the regulation could severely hurt retail investors, by putting in place a market structure further benefitting dark Systematic Internalisers (SIs). Ignoring the previous plea from BETTER FINANCE and going against the interests of retail investors,

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

⬇️ Read or download BETTER FINANCE’s National 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, economy, and future generations. This will ensure Europe’s prosperity and security in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.

⬇️ 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

A recent survey conducted by BETTER FINANCE and DSW among 3000 investors across the EU found that withholding tax (WHT) refund procedures are cumbersome and costly, making it difficult or financially unreasonable for non-professional investors to reclaim excess withholding tax on cross-border dividend income. More than 90% of European investors find the WHT reclaim procedure

BETTER FINANCE, The European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, joins forces with Stichting Investor Loss Compensation (SILC), assisting Airbus shareholders recover losses resulting from Airbus’ involvement in bribery practices and other wrongful conducts. Free registration is now open at www.airbusclaim.com Largest ever penalty on global bribery practices On 31 January 2020, Airbus – the global

For a third year in a row, a study by BETTER FINANCE and DSW still points to considerable barriers to shareholder engagement as the Shareholder Rights Directive II fails to deliver for European cross-border shareholders, seriously hampering long-term investor engagement and sustainable corporate governance. Following the entry into force of the Shareholder Rights Directive II

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

Savers and individual investors are one of the most vulnerable groups of consumers due to the nature of financial markets, the limited financial literacy of households and the growing complexity of investment services and products. When breaches of consumer rights occur in this sector, losses are high and usually difficult to compensate. BETTER FINANCE’s research

Available data and evidence show significant increases in the trading and investing activity of EU households, sparked by a new wave of young, previously inactive, non-professional investors. Many EU retail investors increased their exposure to listed equities and started to invest via execution-only services (brokerage accounts). Besides flattening the illiquidity curve during the period of

BETTER FINANCE continued its research series into Robo advice with this sixth annual edition, mapping start-up platforms that provide Robo-advisory and investing services, and analysing their user-friendliness, transparency, costs, portfolio composition, the suitability of their recommendations, and sustainability (through mystery shopping). This year the research team selected 18 platforms providing investment advice in 11 countries

Available data and evidence show significant increases in the trading and investing activity of EU households, sparked by a new wave of young, previously inactive, non-professional investors. Many EU retail investors increased their exposure to listed equities and started to invest via execution-only services (brokerage accounts). Besides flattening the illiquidity curve during the period of

Prosecutors in Germany have brought criminal charges against Volkswagen executives over Dieselgate. They have been charged with stock market manipulation. More here.  

Time for a negotiated settlement for European investors: VW has been dragging its feet over European claims The company has paid out € 30 billion in the US This approach is unfair and unjust to European investors Delaying tactics have not worked; legal pressure is mounting The two leading investor protection associations call for a

The US-American authorities Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) have investigated cars from Volkswagen AG and found that, among others, certain US emission standards have been violated. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in engines of certain Volkswagen cars have been found to exceed EPA standards by a factor of up to

In 2016, BETTER FINANCE joined the The Stichting Volkswagen Investors’ Claim in order to help investors obtain redress for “Dieselgate” scandal (information can be found here) Now, time has come for high-ranking Volkswagen executives to testify in court in a case concerning the stock market fray between Volkswagen’s biggest shareholders. A German court will begin hearing

In a letter addressed to the German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy, the Foundation expresses its disappointment regarding the absence of an answer to the letter sent to the Federal Minister in April 2017.  As a reminder, the Stichting Volkswagen Investors Claim represents German and international investors (shareholders and bondholders of VW), who in

As Chairman of the Management Board of the public interest Foundation Stichting Volkswagen Investors Claim I have sent an open letter to Ms. Brigitte Zypries, Minister for Economics and Energy. Stichting Volkswagen Investors Claim strives for a rapid solution that is at the same time fair to the victims, and does not substantially prejudice the

U.S. developments Over the last months, it has been reported that Volkswagen reached a 15 billion dollar settlement with the authorities, the consumers and the car dealers in the United States. Contrary to these developments, Volkswagen has raised a motion to dismiss the ADR investor case. The judge will hear this motion during a trial

DSW, Germany’s oldest and largest association of private investors and member of BETTER FINANCE, partnered up with the Netherlands-based foundation STICHTING VOLKSWAGEN INVESTORS CLAIM in order to represent aggrieved VW investors in the DieselGate case. The Foundation seeks to settle with Volkswagen out of court, with a potential agreement in favour of VW investors to

BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, has committed to support the Stichting (Foundation) Volkswagen Investors Claim in pursuing recovery for investors who suffered investment losses resulting from the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal. To this day, the Dutch collective redress system remains the only system that can effectively represent abused European