Seminars

As the new Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2) enters its final implementation phase, this event will take stock of how the CCD2 is reshaping consumer credit across the EU. 

Bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry representatives and experts, the discussion will examine how the new framework is being implemented in practice, where differences across Member States remain, what challenges may emerge as the rules begin to apply as well as the impact of transposition delays in many Member States. 

Tokenised deposits are emerging as an important part of the debate on the future of money and financial innovation. This event will bring together representatives from the banking sector, the stablecoin industry and public authorities to explore their potential role in an increasingly digital financial system.

Europe’s financial system stands at a critical juncture. As the EU seeks to mobilise savings, deepen capital markets and strengthen its global competitiveness, an important question has emerged: how can Europe preserve financial stability while reducing the frictions created by excessive regulatory complexity and fragmented supervision?

Online fraud is no longer a marginal risk, but a structural challenge at the heart of the EU’s digital landscape and the fastest-growing form of organized crime.

Digital money is moving rapidly from experimentation to real-world adoption, reflecting the potential for increased efficiency and competitiveness. Beyond stablecoins, the emerging landscape also includes tokenised bank deposits and central bank digital currencies, each having distinct implications for payments, financial intermediation and monetary sovereignty.

Still today, the European payments market remains fragmented. Most players operate solely at the national level and consumers depend on international schemes for cross-border transactions. Change is needed, as secure, efficient and low-cost cross-border payments are essential for the functioning of the EU single market, as well as for deeper European integration.

While the retail digital euro has attracted more public and regulatory attention, the wholesale dimension of central bank digital currency remains less visible – despite its high transformative potential. A wholesale digital euro could enhance the functioning of capital markets, support real-time and programmable settlement mechanisms, and open the door to entirely new forms of financial intermediation. Its implications may extend well beyond financial institutions, with tangible use cases that could directly impact citizens and reshape the broader payment landscape. 

Payment markets have  significantly transformed over the last few decades, both globally and at EU level. As consumer demand for digital solutions grows, innovations have surged throughout the EU’s retail payment ecosystem. New players have entered the market, while established ones are capitalising on emerging opportunities. Consumers now benefit from more choice, as well as a more personalised digital payment experience.

Financial markets have experienced heavy regulatory activity over the last 15 years – from crisis response and the founding of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), through to banking union, the creation of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), the launch of the Capital Markets Union (CMU), and more recently to the beginnings of the sustainable and digital finance agendas. This intense rule-making rollercoaster raises the question – what next?