EU Commission President Calls for Financial Integration to Boost Competitiveness
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pushed for regulatory simplification to enhance the EU's economic growth, positioning the bloc against global rivals like China and the U.S. She criticized Europe's fragmented financial landscape—27 separate systems and over 300 trading venues—as "fragmentation on steroids."
The proposed Savings and Investment Union aims to create a unified capital market, mirroring the efficiency of U.S. federal integration. von der Leyen will present a single-market roadmap at March's Alden Biesen summit, targeting 2028 for implementation. Closed-door discussions highlighted regulatory burdens and energy costs as key growth barriers.