BETTER FINANCE is pleased to announce that, after nearly 10 years at BETTER FINANCE, Arnaud Houdmont is taking on more responsibilities as Director of Communications. In his new role as Spokesperson for BETTER FINANCE, Arnaud will make sure the voice of all European citizens as savers, investors and financial services users, is heard loud and
On 23 March, MEPs Isabel Benjumea and Stéphanie Yon-Courtin addressed the Global Money Week webinar on “Investor Education in times of High Inflation, Financial Repression & Market Volatility” jointly organised by BETTER FINANCE and EFAMA. Please find their respective full speeches below. Excerpts: Isabel Benjumea: “Investor education is a key tool for the completion of
Epargne retraite France : La gouvernance du COREM (ex CREF) pourrait enfin s’améliorer … 21 ans après sa création et la destruction de plus de moitié de la valeur réelle des droits de ses adhérents 4 février 2003 | Une demande répétée des épargnants depuis plus de 20 ans enfin satisfaite ? Le COREM vient d’annoncer qu’à
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
BETTER FINANCE is very pleased to welcome Sébastien Commain to the BETTER FINANCE Team in Brussels where he has started in his new role as Research and Policy Officer. As part of the BETTER FINANCE Research and Policy team, Sébastien will focus on Financial Services Regulation and Capital Markets Research. Sébastien has extensive experience with
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
[ARCHIVED: This survey is now closed] The refund of withholding taxes on dividends – to avoid double taxation – can be a complicated procedure for private investors/shareholders across the European Union. Many factors must be taken into account, including the tax residence of the shareholder and the country of the issuer (the listed company), administrative
In a letter to BETTER FINANCE, Commissioner McGuinness reconfirmed her commitment to the key objectives of the Retail Investor Strategy. BETTER FINANCE is also encouraged to read that Ms McGuinness reemphasises the clear and very appropriate objectives of the Retail Investor Strategy as spelled out in the European Commission’s September 2020 CMU Action Plan: Coherent
The Czech Presidency of the Council tightened plans for an EU-wide ban on a controversial stock-trading practice despite opposition from the German government. Last Monday, governments were able to see the draft ban on “payment for order flow”. The text states that investment firms “shall not receive fees, commissions or non-monetary benefits from third parties
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