The annual “Financing Europe” conference, held most recently on 1 February 2024 in Brussels, focuses on revitalising Europe’s investment landscape to support societal needs and advance towards becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The conference aims to foster a collective shift towards sustainable and inclusive economic growth by uniting businesses and governments.
Discussions include policy reforms to enhance competitiveness in Europe, significant investments in new technologies, and strategies to ensure Europe remains open yet resilient in the global market.
This annual conference, now in its 23rd year, represents the premier gathering of those working across finance, investment, economics and the path towards a sustainable and competitive European economy.
Delegates
Delegates
Delegates
Delegates
In 2025, the conference will continue to focus on the macro factors that must be prioritised during the early months of the new European Commission and Parliament, and how the Polish Presidency of the European Council can play a role in setting the EU on the right path.
Outside of the plenary, focussed sessions will be held on the financing of short-to medium-term large-scale civilian projects, including those related to resilience and civil-preparedness, quantum and cryptography.
Mairead McGuinness is the European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union.
The Commissioner’s vision for the portfolio is focused on ensuring the financial sector’s strength and stability, so that it can deliver for people, society and the environment.
Before joining the Commission in October 2020, Ms. McGuinness was First Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2017. She served as an MEP from Ireland for 16 years and was a Vice-President of the Parliament since 2014.
As Vice-President, she oversaw relations with national Parliaments, led the Parliament’s dialogue with religious and philosophical organisations and had responsibility for the Parliament’s communication policy.
During her time in the Parliament, Ms. McGuinness sat on a range of committees, covering agriculture, environment, public health, budgets, petitions and constitutional affairs. Her legislative work included leading for the EPP Group on the European Climate Law, the revision of medical devices legislation, and CAP reform post-2013. As an Irish MEP representing the border region, she was outspoken on Brexit and the consequences for the EU and Ireland.
In 2006-2007, Ms. McGuinness chaired the Parliament’s investigation into the collapse of the Equitable Life assurance company which identified issues around weak financial regulation.
Prior to becoming an MEP, she was an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and commentator.
Vice-President Östros’s areas of oversight include financing of energy, health and life sciences, EIB Global (development policy together with Vice-President Fayolle; pre-accession policy is with Vice-President Kakouris), financing operations in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Russia*, the ACP countries (Africa and the Pacific, except the Caribbean States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), jointly with Vice-President Fayolle), relations with the EIB Group Audit Committee, corporate responsibility, diversity and inclusion, Legal – lending operations. Vice-President Östros also oversees relations with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Ombudsman, relations with the Gulf countries, relations with central banks’ debt management offices, and relations with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB).
Mario Nava is the Director-General of DG REFORM of the European Commission that he joined in 1994. Previously, he held 3 Director and 2 Heads of Unit posts in the DG for financial services. He was also President of Italian Financial Market Authority (CONSOB). He is active in research and teaching at Bocconi University (Milan) and at Solvay Business School (Brussels).
Verena Ross is the Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). She took up the role on 1 November 2021 and is responsible for representing the Authority as well as preparing the work of and chairing its Board of Supervisors and Management Board.
Between 2011 and 2021 Verena Ross served as ESMA’s first Executive Director, when she was responsible for building up the organisation and overseeing its day to day running.
Prior to this, Verena held a number of senior posts in the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) and was a member of the FSA’s Executive Committee. Verena joined the FSA in 1998 to run the Executive Chairman’s office during the regulator’s start-up phase and was briefly a seconded advisor to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission in 2000. She held various positions in the FSA’s Markets Division and was Director of Strategy & Risk Division before becoming Director of the International Division.
Verena is a German national. Following studies in Sinology and Economics in Hamburg, Taipei and London (SOAS) she began her career at the Bank of England in 1994, where she worked as an economist and banking supervisor.
More details on the conference will be sent shortly.
For any questions in the meantime, please contact FinancingEurope@forum-europe.com