BETTER FINANCE, the representative of EU citizens as savers and investors, is concerned about the European Commission’s proposals to amend the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These revisions threaten to weaken critical sustainability framework by reducing the scope of reporting and due diligence of EU-domiciled businesses, ultimately
Key Actions for Advancing the Savings & Investments Union – Presentation to ESMA’s Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group Advisory Group This presentation, delivered during the ESMA Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) meeting, outlines concrete policy recommendations to strengthen the EU’s Savings and Investments Union and close the pension adequacy gap. The presentation highlights the
The European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for the review of the SFDR in Q4 2025. This position paper provides an overview of BETTER FINANCE, BEUC, and Finance Watch proposed adaptations to the SFDR, following recommendations from the Platform on Sustainable Finance to the European Commission. As defenders of individual investors’, consumers’ and
Brussels | Press Release BETTER FINANCE, alongside BEUC and Finance Watch, welcomes the Platform on Sustainable Finance’s proposal to categorise financial products under the SFDR. However, we have serious concerns regarding the proposed “ESG Collection” category and the absence of mandatory engagement requirements for professional ESG investors, both of which risk misleading investors. BEUC and
Brussels | Press Release BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, welcomes the encouraging vote by Siemens shareholders against virtual-only AGMs – a decision that signals what will hopefully become a broader trend from 2025 onwards. This important development has been largely driven by the efforts of its German member organisation,
Brussels | Press Release BETTER FINANCE stands for a level playing field for all investors, advocating for stronger collective redress mechanisms for investors across Europe. A particularly striking case that underscores the current inadequacies in investor compensation mechanisms within the European Union is the emissions scandal involving Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA), now part of
Brussels | Press Release The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just released its annual report on the costs and performance of EU retail investment products. While the report is a valuable tool for assessing market trends, its findings once again highlight the persistent shortcomings that leave EU individual investors at a disadvantage. Underwhelming
Brussels | Press Release The long-awaited Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) was designed to transform retirement savings in Europe, but industry opposition and sluggish progress are stalling its game-changing promise. BETTER FINANCE, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users, has published a position paper, “The Future Pan-European Pension Product: Realising PEPP’s Potential for
Something new on the personal pensions front? 2024 might enter history books as the year in which the European Union (EU) finally decided to offer its citizens a competitive personal pension product and its firms a steady source of long-term funding. Over the past twelve months, three high-level reports on the EU’s economy advocated plugging
BETTER FINANCE welcomes ESMA’s Call for Evidence on civil liability provisions under the Prospectus Regulation (PR). This consultation presents a critical opportunity to harmonise liability rules across Member States, addressing disparities that weaken investor protection and hinder the efficiency of EU capital markets. Divergences in fault standards, limitation periods, recoverable damages, and procedural rules create