Press Release - For immediate release
EFAMA welcomes momentum by the Commission High Level Expert Group on sustainable finance
Brussels, Thursday 13 July 2017 Today the European Commissions High Level Expert Group HLEG on sustainable finance published its interim report. EFAMA, the European Fund and Asset Management Association, welcomes the momentum behind the European Commission High Level Expert Groups (HLEG) aim to develop an EU strategy on sustainable finance and reform the EU financial policy framework in a way which will mobilise private capital for sustainable investments.
Peter De Proft, Director General of EFAMA commented: We believe that such an EU policy framework could help stimulate and educate in the field of responsible investment and sustainable finance. With citizens and companies increasingly feeling a responsibility to take part in addressing ESG challenges in their investments, asset managers, as the linchpin between investors savings and the real economy, have a crucial role to play in providing the tools and advice for selecting responsible investments.
In listening to clients and providing them with investment solutions to achieve their objectives, the asset management industry contributes to a more sustainable economy by mainstreaming the integration of ESG in the investment process; reporting to clients, including on ESG related challenges; and engaging with companies in their portfolios to influence their management of ESG challenges.
EFAMA highlights the importance of pursuing a sustainable finance agenda focused on a balance of the three E, S and G pillars. Peter De Proft added: We would strongly emphasize the equal importance of the environmental and green finance aspects, social challenges, and governance issues, in pursuing a comprehensive, complementary and effective approach to sustainable finance.
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About the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA):
EFAMA is the representative association for the European investment management industry. EFAMA represents through its 28 member associations and 62 corporate members close to EUR 23 trillion in assets under management of which EUR 14.1 trillion managed by 58,400 investment funds at end 2016. Just over 30,600 of these funds were UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities) funds, with the remaining 27,800 funds composed of AIFs (Alternative Investment Funds). For more information about EFAMA, please visit www.efama.org.
