Commissioner Albuquerque Engages with the Academic Community on Developing the Savings and Investments Union

The EU Commission recognizes the invaluable role of the academic community in shaping its financial services policies. This engagement is particularly pivotal for the successful design and implementation of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU).

On July 15, 2026, a significant dialogue took place between Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque and prominent scholars from across Europe. This meeting, which marks the third of its kind, aimed at advancing the policy initiatives related to financial regulation and the overarching SIU strategy. Commissioner Albuquerque emphasized the importance of incorporating high-caliber data and rigorous analyses provided by academia to inform policy decisions effectively.

Last year, the Commission introduced the market integration and supervision package, laying the groundwork for improved coordination and integration within financial markets. In the recent context of the European Semester, specific recommendations were proposed to Member States to enhance retail investors’ involvement in capital markets, diversify funding sources for businesses, and elevate the significance of supplementary pension schemes alongside financial literacy initiatives. This proactive approach is designed to bolster the banking sector’s competitiveness, which is currently under review by the Commission.

Such dialogues are timely and essential, as they provide a platform for discussing strategies to establish a robust Savings and Investments Union. The current efforts focus on completing the banking union while dismantling the barriers that hinder the financial markets’ singular functioning, particularly regarding supervision mechanisms. These enhancements are aimed at facilitating funding for innovative projects, start-ups, and scale-ups across the EU, underscoring a collective commitment to drive economic growth and job creation.

Commissioner Albuquerque, alongside distinguished individuals such as Philippe Aghion, Agnès Bénassy-Quéré, Daniel Gros, and Mario Monti, garnered praise for their insightful contributions and recommendations directed at fortifying the SIU.

The resolution to cultivate a more competitive banking landscape and a cohesive capital market is evident, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based policymaking. The collaborative efforts between academia, industry experts, and policymakers must continue to further enhance the SIU’s framework, ensuring that it meets the financial needs of citizens and businesses across the EU.

The dialogue was adeptly moderated by Leonie Bell, who leads the economic analysis and evaluation unit at the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA).