The European Commission has adopted its strategy for the Savings and Investments Union (SIU), a key initiative to improve the way the EU financial system channels savings to productive investments. It seeks to offer EU citizens broader access to capital markets and better financing options for companies. This can foster citizens' wealth, while boosting EU economic growth and competitiveness.

The SIU is a horizontal enabler that will create a financing ecosystem to benefit investments in the EU's strategic objectives. As highlighted in the Competitiveness Compass, Europe's capacity to address current challenges – such as climate change, rapid technological shifts and new geopolitical dynamics – demands significant investments, which the Draghi report estimates at an additional €750-800 billion per year by 2030, and which is further impacted by increased defence needs. Much of these additional investment needs relate to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovative companies, which cannot rely solely on bank financing. By developing integrated capital markets - alongside an integrated banking system – the SIU can effectively connect savings and investment needs.

The EU is equipped with a talented workforce, innovative companies and a large pool of household savings of around €10 trillion in bank deposits. Bank deposits are safe and easy to access, but they usually earn less money than investments in capital markets. The SIU can support the well-being of our citizens, by offering them the choice and opportunities to pursue better returns by putting their savings to work in capital markets.