Febelfin and the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB/VBO) call on Belgium, and by extension all members of the European Council, to take decisive action to deliver a Savings and Investments Union, as proposed in the Draghi Report.
The swift completion of the Savings and Investments Union requires the implementation of measures already agreed to improve access to capital markets. At the same time, a review of capital requirements and a simplification of the regulatory framework are needed to safeguard the competitiveness of European banks and strengthen the financing of the European economy. Europe is facing a fundamental and far‑reaching transformation, without which our identity and autonomy would be at risk. This transformation entails substantial investment needs. Including defence and security, the required investments are estimated at €1.2 trillion per year.
Mobilising private capital is also essential in this regard. We explicitly look at the financial sector as a whole, and therefore not at banks or capital markets in isolation. Only by strengthening the entire ecosystem can we ensure that every company has low‑threshold access to the right financing, and that every investor can reap the benefits of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU). High‑performing financial ecosystems and capital markets act as a catalyst for Europe’s competitiveness.
We therefore ask Belgium, acting within the Council, to:
If Europe is to realise its strategic ambitions, the Savings and Investments Union must be delivered now, jointly and with full conviction. Only through swift, collective action can Europe secure its investment needs, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.