Europe holds vast private savings, yet too little is channelled into long-term productive investment. As the Savings and Investment Union (SIU) takes shape, pensions and retail savings sit at the centre of the debate: how can Europe better connect household capital to long-term growth while improving retirement outcomes for citizens?

This issue will be at the centre of the upcoming joint BETTER FINANCE and FESE conference during European Retirement Week 2026:

From Retirement Savings to Investment and Growth

Date: 26 November 2026 | Time: 15:30 – 17:30 CET | Location: Brussels

This conference is being organised as part of the European Retirement Week 2026. We will discuss how pension systems and capital markets can work together under the SIU, and what reforms are needed to create a more trusted, scalable, and efficient ecosystem.

Programme

 15:00 – 15:30 | Welcome & Registrations

15:30 – 15:35 | Convention opening

Rosa Armesto, Director General, FESE
Aleksandra Mączyńska, Managing Director, BETTER FINANCE

15:35 – 15:50 | Keynote Speech

Christina Dias, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Albuquerque

15:50 – 16:00 | Presentation | BETTER FINANCE Report on Pension Savings

Aleksandra Mączyńska, Managing Director, BETTER FINANCE

16:00 – 16:45 | Panel Discussion | The Future of Retirement Savings in Europe: Can the SIU Deliver Better Outcomes?

This panel will explore how pension systems, institutional investors, and EU policy can work together to transform fragmented savings into a coherent long-term investment strategy. It will examine the role of occupational and private pensions in mobilising capital markets, the barriers that still prevent deeper participation by savers, and the policy reforms needed to build trust, scale, and cross-border efficiency. The discussion will also address how institutional investors and regulators can ensure that the SIU delivers not only more investment, but better outcomes for citizens in terms of retirement security, value for money, and access to capital markets growth.

Speakers:

• Maria del Carmen Barrera Chamorro, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Workers’ Group (Group II), Rapporteur on supplementary pension 
• Andrea Beltramello, Head of Unit Savings and Investments Union at the European Commission, DG FISMA
• Valérie Mariatte-Wood, Head of the Consumer Protection Department, EIOPA
• Representative from Crédit Agricole

Moderator: Sébastien Commain, Senior Policy and Research Officer, BETTER FINANCE

16:45 – 17:25 | Fireside Chat | From Savings to Listings: Creating the Market Infrastructure for the SIU

As Europe seeks to strengthen its competitiveness and finance its strategic priorities, deep and transparent public markets will be essential to mobilise savings into productive investment. Against the backdrop of the incoming Lithuanian Council Presidency, this fireside chat will explore how capital markets can help companies grow, broaden retail investor participation and strengthen Europe’s long-term growth and resilience.

Speakers:

• Niels Brab, President, FESE; Chief of Staff to the CEO, Head of Group Corporate & Regulatory Strategy, Deutsche Börse Group
• more speakers to be announced soon
  

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• 17:25 – 17:30 | Closing Remarks

• Rosa Armesto, Director General, FESE
  

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*** Registration will be opened soon ***