14th Annual EU Financial Regulation Conference

Discussion Points

How are ongoing geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and global capital realignments reshaping the EU financial landscape, and what strategic responses are required from European institutions and firms?
As the EU focuses on open strategic autonomy, how can the financial sector strike a balance between resilience, competitiveness, and openness to global capital markets?
With the European financial sector navigating structural transformation, what should be the guiding priorities of the current legislative term?
Have financial institutions effectively integrated sustainability into their core operations, and what mechanisms can the EU enhance or introduce to better channel private investment toward climate and environmental targets?
What are the key regulatory or market-driven initiatives needed to deepen financial integration and support Europe’s role as a global capital markets hub?
How can Europe foster a more competitive and innovation-driven financial ecosystem to strengthen its role in key areas like fintech, asset management, and capital markets?
What is the potential of a Savings and Investment Union to deepen the EU’s financial markets and strengthen the link between savings and productive investment?
In light of renewed political momentum, what concrete next steps are essential for revitalizing the Capital Markets Union and turning political consensus into execution?

As implementation of the Digital Finance Package and AI Act advances, what are the most urgent gaps between regulatory design and market needs?
Is the regulatory environment evolving fast enough to support AI-driven innovation in core financial services like credit scoring, algorithmic trading, and RegTech?
How can policymakers ensure that AI deployment in financial services is trustworthy, explainable, and compliant without stifling innovation or increasing costs for firms?
How will financial supervision need to evolve in light of the growing adoption of generative AI, predictive analytics, and digital identity frameworks?
Are regulatory sandboxes, innovation hubs, and cross-border collaboration mechanisms proving effective in fostering digital financial innovation across the EU?
How can the EU better integrate digital finance tools into sustainability frameworks, including ESG data standardization and tracking of green investments?
What are the emerging risks from digital concentration (e.g. dependency on cloud service providers) and how should the EU mitigate potential systemic vulnerabilities?
How can digital finance initiatives be designed to reach vulnerable groups, increase retail investor engagement, and bridge the financial inclusion gap?
In the broader context of cyber threats and operational resilience, how can digital finance infrastructure be secured while preserving agility and scalability?

With regulatory fatigue and fragmentation concerns mounting, what are the priorities for achieving smarter, simpler, and proportionate financial regulation?
With political consensus established, how can the CMU now deliver practical reforms that address the critical roadblocks to integration?
How should supervisory and regulatory frameworks evolve to support cross-border financial flows, while ensuring systemic safety and proportional oversight?
What progress has been made toward creating a genuine retail investment culture in Europe—and what additional steps are necessary to gain public trust and participation?
What lessons can be drawn from MiFID II/MiFIRand other major regulations about ensuring transparency, efficiency, and innovation without excessive burden?
How can financial regulation be better aligned with the EU’s long-term goals on digital sovereignty, climate transition, and competitiveness?
How can the EU ensure that the Savings and Investment Union delivers better financial outcomes for citizens, while enhancing the financial system’s ability to fund long-term growth?
How might ongoing geopolitical tensions impact the European finance sector? Will it prompt the EU to place greater emphasis on strategic autonomy?

13.30-14.00 Registration and welcome coffee

14.00-15.00 Session 1: Setting the scene – the C-level perspective in Shifting Global Order

15.00-15.15 Coffee break

15.15-16.15 Session 2: Digital Finance and AI – Policy, Innovation and Market Readiness

16.15-16.30 Coffee break

16.30-17.30 Session 3: Shaping Smarter Regulation – Delivering Competitive and integrated EU Financial Markets