8th Annual EC-EIB-ESM Capital Markets Seminar “Financing Europe"
Highlights of the event
On 30 September and 1 October, the European Commission (EC), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) co-hosted the eighth annual Capital Markets Seminar.
Taking place in Luxembourg and streamed online for registered participants, the event attracted around 450 capital market participants including investors, financial intermediaries, issuers and policymakers.
This year’s seminar focused on how Europe can mobilise investment and strengthen its economic resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy through well-functioning capital markets and innovative financing solutions. EIB President Nadia Calviño emphasised that Europe is a superpower, with the size, the talent, the savings, the institutions, the expertise, the underlying infrastructure to lead the way into tomorrow's world. Pierre Gramegna, Managing Director of the ESM, emphasised that a changing, polarised, and fragmented world creates an opportunity for Europe. In this world, strong institutions and legal order are becoming a key asset to attract capital. Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-fraud and Public Administration highlighted the safety of EU bonds. Financial markets are entering exciting but turbulent times. In such times, EU bonds are stable, predictable and reliable and increasingly seen as a safe haven - a liquid and safe European asset.
The Seminar also included a number of high-level panels, keynote speeches, and fireside chats exploring the recent geopolitical and macroeconomic shifts, the current perspectives of European capital markets, as well as the latest developments in digital innovation and sustainable finance.
Laura Cozzi, Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks, International Energy Agency; Julie Becker, CEO Luxembourg Stock Exchange; Isabel Schnabel, Member of the European Central Bank’s Executive Board; Jean Lemierre, Chairman BNP Paribas; Sir Howard Davies, Chairman Qivalis; Stephan Leithner, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Börse; Dr Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Financing Office, European Space Agency; and Clara Raposo, Vice-Governor Banco de Portugal were some of the distinguished speakers who shared their insights on these issues.
Keynote speeches:
EC Commissioner Piotr Serafin
EIB President Nadia Calviño