Good evening, and a very warm welcome to all of you. It is a real pleasure to see so many of you here tonight.

Before we begin, my sincere thanks go to our Prime Minister for having accepted our invitation. Mr. De Wever, it is a real honour to have you with us tonight and we look forward to hearing your insights.

Thank you to our distinguished speakers and panellists, our partners and sponsors and, of course our members. Your active engagement is what makes Febelfin Connect a real place for dialogue.

This year, innovation and technology take centre stage.

And that is no coincidence.

We are meeting in exceptional times.
Geopolitical tensions have reached a critical level. Economic balances are shifting. Uncertainty has become a constant rather than an exception. And already today, this affects our security, our prosperity and the choices we make in our everyday lives, but also as policymakers and businesses.

In this context, one message is clear:
Europe can no longer afford to stand still.

It’s time to wake up: Strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and reinforcing its strategic autonomy are no longer long‑term ambitions but have become immediate necessities.

Nowhere is this challenge more visible than in innovation and technology.
Europe has some of the most robust regulatory frameworks in the world — and rightly so. But we must also be honest: none of the global leaders in artificial intelligence are European.

Like you, Mr. De Wever, already stated in the past: too often, Europe ends up importing innovation instead of developing and scaling it at home.

If Europe wants to reach its ambitions, we must create the right conditions for innovation here in Europe.

And to make this happen, financing is key.

That is why initiatives such as the Savings and Investment Union are so crucial.
Connecting European savings with European investment is not a technical debate — it is a strategic choice.
It is about financing innovation, the energy transition, security and industrial resilience at scale and here in Europe.

Banks play a central role in this effort.
Europe remains, unlike the US, a highly bank‑financed economy. That gives our banking sector a unique responsibility — and a unique opportunity — to support Europe’s strategic priorities.

This sense of urgency has been widely shared.
Last February, by the industry leaders in Antwerp and the EU leaders in Alden Biesen.

And more recently, by the European Council in March, two weeks ago. That Council was, understandably, dominated by international security. But the Member States also sent a clear message to the European Commission and I quote: “we propose targeted amendments to the prudential framework, in order to strengthen banks’ capacity to finance the European economy — while safeguarding financial stability and preserving a global level playing field.”

This message really matters. And we want to thank our Prime Minister for having put the theme of competitiveness so prominently on the European table.

These European debates also have a very tangible relevance here in Belgium.

The past year marked the first year of the Arizona government. Important initiatives were launched to strengthen the foundations of our economy and to address long‑standing structural challenges.

At the same time, it has been a demanding year for the financial sector. Banks have had to navigate a combination of new fiscal measures, higher levies and an already complex regulatory and operational environment.

This context deserves careful attention — not from the perspective of one sector alone, but from that of the broader economy.

A strong, competitive and resilient financial sector is a key enabler for households, entrepreneurs and businesses, particularly in times of structural uncertainty.

That is why continued dialogue and balance are so important.
Ensuring sound public finances and financial stability is essential. And at the same time, preserving the capacity of banks to support the economy remains a shared responsibility.

In that spirit, we believe it is important to view banks as long‑term partners in economic progress. To put it a bit more bluntly in agricultural terms: banks are the workhorses of the economy… and not the cash cows.

In this demanding context, innovation is not optional — it is essential, and that brings us back to our theme of this evening.

Quantum technology with its unprecedented computing power represents the next phase of innovation. As a financial sector with a strong record in innovation, we see it as our responsibility to anticipate these developments.

That is why collaboration is key. Through initiatives such as the Cyber Security Coalition and the Quantum Circle, we work with partners to ensure that innovation goes hand in hand with trust and responsibility.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude: By strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, safeguarding a strong Belgian financial sector and embracing innovation we can help build a future that is secure, resilient and prosperous.

Before I hand the floor back to Hanne, I want to pause for something that really matters to me.

To our Febelfin team: I want to thank you — personally. You carry a crucial responsibility: being the bridge between our vital sector and its stakeholders. And you do that with professionalism and integrity.

You go the extra mile in a complex and often difficult environment; you stay constructive and focused on what really matters.

I am super proud of what you do.

Thank you, I wish you all an inspiring evening.