We fully support the ambitions of the new CMU Action Plan. Properly executed, it has the potential to boost the fortunes of Europe’s pensioners and savers by creating opportunities for them to share in the upside of Europe’s economic recovery and to create more efficient and better integrated European capital markets, which is key to finance European innovation as well as the transition towards a more sustainable and digital economy.
Capital Markets Union
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) serving the needs of European citizens and businesses is as ambitious as it is essential: the effort will enable pensioners and savers to share in the upside of Europe’s economic recovery. In the process, European capital markets also become more efficient and better integrated. This long-term vision is key to financing European innovation and to supporting the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Increasing retail investors’ participation in capital markets is an essential component for building an effective CMU. Improving access to financial and non-financial information and addressing the high data costs our industry is encountering, are also important steps towards a functioning CMU. All this, while maintaining and improving the attractiveness of the European investment management sector in today's global environment.
EFAMA prepared a list of key actions that are required to reach the CMU objectives from an investor perspective. We have also developed a specific Key Performance Indicator to measure year-on-year progress towards increasing retail participation in capital markets in each member state.
Key objectives for the creation of a Capital Markets Union - EFAMA letter to EU Commissioner McGuinness
Priorities for the investment management industry - EFAMA letter to Portuguese Presidency of the EU
The European investment management industry is helping savers achieve their financial goals and build up retirement savings. Investment management is a vital part of the European economy, providing funding for companies and infrastructure projects and contributing to economic growth and job creation across all Member States.
EFAMA's feedback on the EU Commission's consultation on the Capital Markets Union High Level Forum Final Report
Households continue to keep a disproportionate amount of money in bank deposits in most European countries
New report calls for action to be taken to revive the Capital Markets Union project
Household Participation in Capital Markets
This report analyses the progress made in recent years by European households in allocating more of their financial wealth to capital market instruments (pension plans, life insurance, investment funds, debt securities and listed shares) and less in cash and bank deposits. It also includes policy recommendations on improving retail participation in capital markets, including for the Retail Investment Strategy currently under discussion.
Some key findings include:
Policymakers threaten to backtrack on pre-trade data for EU consolidated tape
European asset managers continue to urge policymakers to support the European Parliament’s proposal for an Equities/ETFs consolidated tape which includes 5 layers of real-time pre-trade data. Market participants, including the European buy and sell-sides have consistently maintained that a post-trade only equities/ETFs consolidated tape will not meet with the market demand required to make the tape commercially viable. Tanguy van de Werve, Director General of EFAMA, stated: “This would be a legislative se
Household Participation in Capital Markets
This publication precedes the European Commission's forthcoming new Action Plan on the Capital Markets Union (CMU). It includes ten concrete policy recommendations to help advance the CMU, including the introduction of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to monitor progress in household participation in capital markets.