BETTER FINANCE welcomes ESMA’s recent publication of its groundbreaking report on “Total Costs of Investing in UCITS and AIFs”. The report sheds critical light on the true extent of the costs borne by EU citizens as individual investors. It reveals that distribution costs account for nearly half (48%) of the total expenses investors face when
The European Commission’s proposed reforms to the Pan-European Personal Pension product (PEPP) could make retirement savings simpler, more transparent, and potentially more cost-efficient for millions of Europeans — but BETTER FINANCE warns that “the devil is in the detail.” The proposed changes for Basic PEPPs include the introduction of a simplified lifecycle glidepath, the removal of mandatory capital guarantees and of the mandatory second
As the European Commission publishes its proposal to revise the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), BETTER FINANCE welcomes steps towards improving the framework but urges policymakers to ensure that reforms truly strengthen clarity, credibility and investor protection. Simplification is welcome, but not if it results in weaker transparency or reduced safeguards for Europe’s citizens. BETTER FINANCE Welcomes the Transition
As the European Commission prepares to publish its review proposal of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, calls for reforms that genuinely strengthen transparency and investor protection, while cautioning against measures that could weaken these essential objectives. For individual investors, clarity and trust must
This week’s decision by the European Parliament not to forward the Omnibus I Package to trilogue negotiations marks both a moment of opportunity and of caution for the future of sustainable corporate governance and transparency in the EU. At BETTER FINANCE, we welcome this gesture of prudence. As outlined in our position paper of 30
A renewed vision for Europe’s capital markets Mario Draghi’s Report highlighted that Europe’s capital markets should finance growth and innovation, yet they remain fragmented and underperforming. A year later, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised in her SOTEU speech the urgent need for decisive EU action. These calls make clear the importance of
Our response to the consultation on the amended European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) reflects both recognition of progress and concerns about what is still missing for individual investors. We welcome the efforts to simplify the regulatory framework. Reducing unnecessary datapoints and avoiding excessive box-ticking can indeed lower the burden on EU businesses. But simplification should
BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, welcomes the European Commission’s new initiatives to advance the Savings and Investments Union (SIU), notably the EU Financial Literacy Strategy and the blueprint for Savings and Investment Accounts (SIAs). Financial literacy and access to simple, cost-effective investment products are two sides of the same
BETTER FINANCE provides feedback on an optional, digital-first “28th Regime” for companies. If well designed, this new EU company framework could bridge corporate and securities law, boost attractiveness, reduce arbitrage, overcome investors’ home bias, and foster cross-border capital flows that strengthen the Capital Markets Union. But to succeed, the regime must avoid starting from the
BETTER FINANCE welcomes the European Union consultation on an optional, digital-by-default “28th Regime” framework, reflecting on what an “EU company brand” could mean for entrepreneurs and investors. Properly designed (and as BETTER FINANCE has long advocated for listed issuers) such a regime should bridge corporate and securities law through genuine EU standards, reducing arbitrage, overcoming