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Speaker Interviews

Event Overview

Now in its 20th consecutive year, the European Financial Services Conference is widely considered as the major event in the Brussels calendar on financial services, annually attracting some 600 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 25 January 2022 as an online 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:

New ambitions, new visions – priorities in redefining Europe’s financial services systems

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Sustainable and digital finance initiatives – do they go far enough?

A review of post global financial crisis reforms and recovery-oriented policies 

Seizing the opportunity – maximising Europe’s attractiveness for global sustainable investment

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Agenda and speakers will be announced soon

Agenda

Agenda
2022-01-25
09:15 - 09:25
Welcome from the Conference Partners
09:25 - 09:40
Keynote Interview
Keynote Interview image
David Reed
Senior Partner, Kreab
Keynote Interview image
Verena Ross
Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
09:40 - 10:40
Session 1: Fireside Chat: New ambitions, new visions – redefining Europe’s financial services systems

Leaders of financial institutions, or any institution for that matter, have reset corporate strategy for a new operating environment. We will share some experiences from this process and what we have learned from it. However, for the first time in a decade, leaders are also facing a dramatically changing regulatory environment – with both horizontal new regulations around governance, transparency, and data as well as sectoral legislation impacting one or several parts of their businesses. This introduces another period of regulatory uncertainty which will last until EU elections in 2024. How do business and policy leaders see the wood for the trees in this changing landscape? This session will assess what kind of future we see being shaped by the current legislative and regulatory focus and offer judgements on whether this will position Europe’s financial system for global competitiveness or stagnation. We will assess:

  • Are the current legislative reviews shaped by an accurate assessment of where we are today and where
    we are seeking to be tomorrow?
  • With which policy initiatives and rule changes can Europe get its best return on investment?
  • What should we definitely not do?
Session 1: Fireside Chat: New ambitions, new visions – redefining Europe’s financial services systems image
Francesco Ceccato
CEO, Barclays Europe
Session 1: Fireside Chat: New ambitions, new visions – redefining Europe’s financial services systems image
Santo Borsellino
Chairman, Generali Insurance Asset Management (GIAM),
Vice-President, Assogestioni & Board Member, EFAMA
Session 1: Fireside Chat: New ambitions, new visions – redefining Europe’s financial services systems image
Alexandra Jour-Schroeder
Deputy Director-General, DG FISMA, European Commission
Session 1: Fireside Chat: New ambitions, new visions – redefining Europe’s financial services systems image
Moderator: Robert Priester
Chief European Representative, Institute of International Finance
10:40 - 11:10
Networking Break
11:10 - 12:10
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans

It is no understatement to characterise 2022 as a pivotal year for financial sector policymakers, consumers, business, and investors. Sustainable and digital finance initiatives, reviews of all post global financial crisis reforms, and recovery oriented policies all coincide in this second phase of the 2019-2024 College and Parliamentary term. Europe is embarked on a historic transition of its regulatory system, informed by a new set of sustainable-first principles that
will help mobilise capital, strengthen corporate governance and accountability, and grow Europe’s economy. In this session we will focus on what is most important for Europe to agree on now, why this is important and how can this
be made a reality. This session will analyse:

  • Where should our focus be in 2022?
  • What distractions or false positives must we guard against?
  • Is Europe’s financial system more or less autonomous than it was before COVID struck?
  • What is a post Brexit European capital market union?
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans image
Petra Hielkema
Chairperson, EIOPA
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans image
William De Vijlder
Group Chief Economist, BNP Paribas Fortis
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans image
Markus Ferber
Member, European Parliament
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans image
William Wright
Founder and Managing Director, New Financial
Session 2: Panel Discussion: From ideas to delivery – turning principles into real life benefits for Europeans image
Moderator: Ida Levine
Principal, Two Rivers Associates Limited; Board member and Lead Expert on Policy, Impact Investing Institute
12:10 - 13:20
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions

We are learning fast by doing a lot. The material face of the EU’s industry policy vision is evident in the initiatives addressing technologies such as AI and Cloud and the market position of conglomerates in the DSA and DMA. An enabling framework for sharing data, DLT, crypto currencies (etc) will soon be in place. This begs the question of which business models will succeed in this environment, and what limitations will this place on access, choice, and innovation. This panel will provide insights into the overlapping worlds of finance, fintech and big tech and draw conclusions on what this means for citizens, businesses large and small, and supervisors. The goal is a digital financial services market that meets society’s needs and gives authorities the tools necessary to monitor, intervene, and enforce EU law. Questions that arise here are:

  • What kinds of financial services do users and investors need?
  • What does open finance really mean? How open and is it just about finance?
  • What behaviours will characterise the most successful providers of financial services and their supervisors in 2025?
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
Stéphanie Yon-Courtin
Member, European Parliament
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
José Manuel Campa
Chairperson, European Banking Authority
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
Morten Linnemann Bech
Centre Head - Switzerland, BIS Innovation Hub
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
Roberto Catanzaro
Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Nexi
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
Faryar Shirzad
Chief Policy Officer, Coinbase
Session 3: Panel Discussion: The digital single market for financial services – regulating services rather than institutions image
Moderator: Nicolas Véron
Senior Fellow, Bruegel / The Peterson Institute for International Economics
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#EUFSConf22

Confirmed speakers:

Verena ross 200

Verena Ross

Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

Wiliam 2

Francesco Ceccato

CEO, Barclays Europe

Santo

Santo Borsellino

Chairman, Generali Insurance Asset Management (GIAM)
Vice-President, Assogestioni
Board Member, EFAMA

Alexandra

Alexandra Jour-Schroeder

Deputy Director-General, DG FISMA, European Commission

Petra

Petra Hielkema

Chairperson, EIOPA

William

William De Vijlder

Group Chief Economist, BNP Paribas

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Stéphanie Yon-Courtin

Member, European Parliament

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José Manuel Campa

Chairperson, European Banking Authority

Markus feber 200

Markus Ferber

Member, European Parliament

Morten Linnemann Bech 240 240

Morten Linnemann Bech

Centre Head - Switzerland, BIS Innovation Hub

Danuta

Danuta Hübner

Member, European Parliament

Speaker3

Paul Tang

Member, European Parliament

speaker

Lawrence Wintermeyer

Executive Co-Chair, Global Digital Finance

Speaker

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.
Event Partner
We are The European PayTech with scale, capabilities and proximity to provide the simplest, fastest and safest payment solutions to People, Businesses and Financial Institutions. We come from the merger and integration of Nexi, Nets and Sia, among the biggest European players in digital payments and we are now present in more than 25 countries. We help our Customers pay and accept digital payments through a complete and personalised range of simple, intuitive and secure solutions. We offer Banks, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Large International Corporations, Institutions and Public Administrations a complete range of innovative solutions for digital payments in both card‑present and card‑not‑present acceptance, e-commerce and multi-channel solutions. We drive progress by simplifying transactions and by empowering people and businesses to enjoy closer relationships and prosper together.

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 2021 Conference

Contact

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

Hannah Corns
Senior Event Manager
Forum Europe

[email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 027