This event has now taken place. Keep an eye out here for updates on the 20th Anniversary edition of the Annual European Financial Services Conference in 2022!

Event highlights video

Event replays and speaker interviews

Event Overview

Now in its 19th consecutive year, the European Financial Services Conference is widely considered as the major event in the Brussels calendar on financial services, annually attracting some 400 senior bankers and financial policymakers to discuss the most pertinent issues affecting European and global financial markets. 

Hosted by Barclays, Generali and Kreab, this year’s conference is planned to take place on 15 June 2021 as a virtual event.

As we continue on the pathway out of the crisis, the conference will explore the vision for the next generation European financial system.

Key topics to be discussed:

Building back better – Opportunities and challenges ahead

Mainstreaming ESG

CBDC – The future of the digital euro

Europe and the emerging new global partnerships

financial services infographic
financial services infographic
financial services infographic

Agenda

Agenda
2021-06-15
09:10 - 09:15
Welcome from the conference partners
Welcome from the conference partners image
David Reed
Senior Partner, Kreab
09:15 - 10:15
Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top

Over a year has passed since the pandemic swept over us in several waves causing unprecedented economic and social upheaval. As the vaccination programmes gradually allow for the re-opening of our economies and societies, this session will look at how leaders of large global financial institutions assess the success of the economic measures taken to address the crisis and what they see as the resulting policy priorities. As we continue on the pathway out of the crisis, it will discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead as we adapt to changes in working environments and the investment climate, and the vital role that the financial sector can play in building a sustainable recovery.

 

– What is the current state of the EU economy in comparison to other regions?
– What should be the key priorities for financial institutions and EU economic and
financial policy over the next 12 months and beyond?
– What role should digitalisation and sustainability play in the recovery?
– What are the lessons for European economic sovereignty and how do we balance them with our global interests and instincts?

Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top image
David Reed
Senior Partner, Kreab
Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top image
Gabriele Galateri di Genola
Group Chairman, Generali
Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top image
Francesco Ceccato
CEO, Barclays Europe
Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top image
Anne Richards
CEO, Fidelity International
Session 1: Building Back Better – Views from the Top image
David Schwimmer
CEO, London Stock Exchange Group
10:15 - 10:35
Keynote Speech
Keynote Speech image
Andrej Šircelj
Minister for Finance, Slovenia
10:35 - 11:00
Networking break
11:00 - 12:00
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream?

After years on the sidelines, there are signs that environmental, social and governance investing (ESG) is going mainstream, with record capital inflows in 2020. This move from sectoral, tailored sustainability legislations to broader, holistic ESG initiatives is shown in the transition of initiatives to capture more firms (NFRD, Green Bonds, Taxonomy, etc.) as well as a move to look beyond limited environmental focus. As we move into the recovery phase, focus has shifted to holistic ESG – including increased focus on social issues, human rights, and biodiversity. This is also apparent in the connected sustainable corporate governance workstream, which will affect financial institutions and corporates. The International Platform for Sustainable Finance has begun working in global coordination of broad ESG workstreams including disclosure, reporting, labels and standards, and the use of taxonomies. This session will examine the evolution of ESG and the long-term path ahead.

 

– How has the EU’s vision of sustainable finance evolved from the 2018 Action Plan to now as we anticipate the Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy (shift to real economy)?
– How has the COVID pandemic, both from a financial markets perspective and societal view, influenced the EU sustainable finance agenda? Of course, sustainability is actively being ingrained in the recovery, but has the focus shifted or new priorities emerged for action?
– What challenges and opportunities lie in the expansion of focus from just environmental sustainability to holistic ESG? Can the EU address social and governance issues the same way environmental issues were tackled (e.g. through disclosures/taxonomy)?
– How will outstanding questions of access, availability and reliability of ESG data be addressed (e.g. NFRD review, ESG data single access point, etc)? Will these actions fix the problem?
– How will the sustainable corporate governance and sustainable finance workstreams build on one another?

Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Moderator: Victor van Hoorn
Executive Director, Eurosif
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Paul Tang
Member, European Parliament
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Marcel Haag
Director, Horizontal Policies, DG FISMA, European Commission
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Ingrid Holmes
Executive Director, Green Finance Institute
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Stephanie Butcher
Chief Investment Officer and European Equity Fund Manager, Invesco
Session 2: ESG – Is Sustainable Investing moving into the mainstream? image
Jane Ambachtsheer
Global Head of Sustainability, BNP Paribas Asset Management
12:00 - 12:20
Networking break
12:20 - 13:30
Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro

In June 2021, the ECB will decide whether to proceed with the creation and distribution of a digital euro – an electronic form of central bank money accessible to all citizens and firms. Central banks around the world have undertaken tremendous efforts to assess the potential and investigate the opportunities of CBDC. CBDC is a game changer, and its specific design must fulfil a number of principles and requirements such as accessibility, robustness, safety, efficacy and privacy. Finally, international cooperation will be key in shaping the future ecosystem.

– Do EU citizens want a digital euro? How will this help them?
– What are the risks and benefits involved in issuing a digital euro?
– With several other nations sufficiently advanced in the development of their own CBDC (e.g. Sweden, China), is the euro-area already behind in this area? If so, how will we catch up?
– There are several concerns related to risk and stability, how does the infrastructure and design of the digital euro impact this?

Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro image
Moderator: Lawrence Wintermeyer
Executive Co-Chair, Global Digital Finance
Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro image
Javier Pérez-Tasso
CEO, Swift
Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro image
Ulrich Bindseil
Director General, Market Infrastructures and Payments, European Central Bank
Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro image
Danuta Hübner
Member, European Parliament
Session 3: Central Bank Digital Currencies – the future of the digital euro image
Paolo Bertoluzzo
CEO, Nexi
13:30 - 14:00
Networking break
14:00 - 15:00
Session 4: Europe and the emerging new global partnerships – forging a new future

A new future needs to be forged between the EU and its primary international partners in financial services provision, in particular the UK and the US. The UK’s departure from the EU has important implications for the EU financial system, most notably for capital markets. As the new Biden administration beds in, there is an opportunity to jointly address shared economic priorities. This session will give serious thought to optimally shaping the future political and regulatory relationships between our respective financial sectors. It will ask what our senior policymaker panel see as the key policy priorities going forward internationally and how those priorities will play out across different jurisdictions. It will also look at how the EU, UK and US will manage to stay aligned on global principles, whilst maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of financial markets and an effective regulatory architecture for globally operating firms.

Session 4: Europe and the emerging new global partnerships – forging a new future image
Moderator: Henne Schuwer
Senior Advisor, Kreab
Session 4: Europe and the emerging new global partnerships – forging a new future image
Sharon Yang
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Financial Markets, US Department of Treasury
Session 4: Europe and the emerging new global partnerships – forging a new future image
John Berrigan
Director General, DG FISMA, European Commission
Session 4: Europe and the emerging new global partnerships – forging a new future image
Katharine Braddick
Director General for Financial Services, HM Treasury, UK
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#EUFSConf21

Confirmed speakers:

Minister Sircelj

Andrej Šircelj

Minister for Finance, Slovenia

Francesco Ceccato

Francesco Ceccato

CEO, Barclays Europe

Gabriele Galateri di Genola

Gabriele Galateri di Genola

Group Chairman, Generali

Anne Richards

Anne Richards

CEO, Fidelity International

240 schwimmer

David Schwimmer

CEO, London Stock Exchange Group

John Berrigan

John Berrigan

Director General, DG FISMA, European Commission

Javier Perez Tasso

Javier Pérez-Tasso

CEO, SWIFT

Katharine Braddick

Katharine Braddick

Director General for Financial Services, HM Treasury, UK

Sharon Yang Official-large

Sharon Yang

Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Financial Markets, US Department of Treasury

Ulrich Bindseil 2012

Ulrich Bindseil

Director General, Market Infrastructures and Payments, European Central Bank

danuta hubner

Danuta Hübner

Member, European Parliament

Paul Tang

Paul Tang

Member, European Parliament

Photo©John Cassidy The Headshot Guy®
www.theheadshotguy.co.uk
07768 401009

Lawrence Wintermeyer

Executive Co-Chair, Global Digital Finance

240 holmes

Ingrid Holmes

Executive Director, Green Finance Institute

Jane Ambachtsheer

Jane Ambachtsheer

Global Head of Sustainability, BNP Paribas Asset Management

Organisers & Partners

Event Host
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs 140,000 people. Visit website: www.barclays.com 
Event Host
Generali is one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, it is present in 50 countries in the world with total premium income of more than € 69.7 billion in 2019. With nearly 72,000 employees serving 61 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. Generali’s ambition is to be the life-time partner to its customers, offering innovative and personalised solutions thanks to an unmatched distribution network.
Event Host
Kreab is a world leading communications consultancy. We provide independent and strategic advice on high-stakes financial, corporate and public affairs communications. With operations in 25 countries, and over 350 highly experienced consultants, we offer communications counsel to the highest levels within companies, organizations, governments and governmental agencies. Visit website: www.kreab.com
Event Organiser
Forum Europe events are where people and policy meet. We have been organising policy conferences in Brussels and around Europe since 1989. Our events provide unique insights from the people behind the policy and those seeking to influence it. Our expert team develop conference programmes with impact and provide first-class event logistics. Forum Europe is more than an event management and conference production specialist. With offices in Brussels and the UK, we operate across Europe and globally. Through our international arm, Forum Global, our events cover five continents, and engage policymakers and industry at national and regional levels around the world. Our mission is to drill down to the issues that matter, creating policy events that are ahead of the curve, facilitating frank and open debate on some of the most pressing issues facing Europe and the world today.Visit website: https://www.forum-europe.com
Event Partner
BNP Paribas Fortis is the bank for a changing world. A bank managed in all transparency, driven by values of responsibility, humanity, innovation and enthusiasm.
Supporting Partner
LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) is more than a diversified global financial markets infrastructure and data business. We are dedicated, open-access partners with a commitment to excellence in delivering the services our customers expect from us. With extensive experience, deep knowledge and worldwide presence across financial markets, we enable businesses and economies around the world to fund innovation, manage risk and create jobs. It’s how we’ve contributed to supporting the financial stability and growth of communities and economies globally for more than 300 years.
Media Partner
Bloomberg is the global leader in business and financial data, news and insight. Using the power of technology, we connect the world's decision makers to accurate information on the financial markets – and help them make faster, smarter decisions.

If you are interested in becoming involved in this event and finding out more about the sponsorship opportunities available, please contact Charlene Bowditch: [email protected] / +44 (0) 2920 783 079

Overview of 2020 Conference

Contact

For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Anna Harrison using any of the details below.

Anna Harrison
Event Manager
Forum Europe

anna.harrison@forum-europe.com

Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 073