Press release - EU FINANCIAL CENTRES BREAK NEW GROUND WITH CONFERENCE FOR USERS AND PROVIDERS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES BARNIER SUPPORTS
07/09/2012 Communiqué PressePRESS RELEASE
BRUSSELS - FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2012
EU FINANCIAL CENTRES BREAK NEW GROUND WITH CONFERENCE FOR USERS AND PROVIDERS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES – BARNIER SUPPORTS
In this critical period for Europe, the role of a robust network of financial centres to leverage the necessary value of financial services to the economies of the EU was debated on Wednesday 6 September, at the first conference of the European Financial Centres Roundtable. The new grouping of leading financial centres in the EU welcomed Commissioner Michel Barnier’s comments at the conference, supporting the contribution financial services make to the wider economy.
In his keynote speech at the conference, held at the Representation to the EU of the Free State of Bavaria, Commissioner Michel Barnier said:
“European financial centres have a key role and must be able to rise to today's challenges for the European economy. We need to make sure that people regain confidence in the financial sector. And that the financial sector supports growth and investment."
He continued
"My agenda is to put in place European rules in support of these goals of promoting growth and restoring financial stability.”
There was a panel discussion, chaired by Edouard de Lencquesaing of Paris Europlace, with the participation of Elizabeth Corley, CEO, Allianz Global Investors; Santiago Fernández de Lis, Chief Economist for Financial Systems and Regulation, BBVA Research; Susannah Haan, Secretary General, European Issuers; Gerhard Huemer, Director Economy and Fiscal Policy, European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Dr. Wolf Klinz, Member of the European Parliament; and Thierry Philipponnat, Secretary General, Finance Watch.
The panel discussion was recognised as breaking new ground in linking EU policy and financial architecture with the real concerns of individual financial centres and their clients over the balance of predictability and risk in the challenges they face, and in ensuring the sustainability of their businesses.
The co-ordinator of the Roundtable, Pablo Rivera of Madrid Centro Financiero, said:
“The members of the Roundtable are fully committed to working together to develop an efficient EU financial services industry with global reach, in the interests of the real economy, and to leverage as a coherent strength the diversity embodied in our group.”
Emphasising the value of financial centres to their many and various users, he said:
"Financial Centres act as service centres that optimize the interaction between the different elements of the system (users, markets, issuers, intermediaries, supervisors), either as regards large corporations or SMEs."
"The members of the “European Financial Centres Roundtable” that I represent here today, are fully committed to working together to promote globally the EU´s financial services industry, in the interests of financial services users".
“The European Financial Centres Roundtable comes to light today with the idea of providing the maximum support to those interested in making the European Financial System a worldwide recognized brand, while working in serving financial services users, in rebuilding trust in our markets and, in finding responses to our big question of this conference today “How do financial centres contribute to the wider economy?".”
Notes to editors
1. The European Financial Centres Roundtable is an informal affiliation of EU financial centres. Its members are Edinburgh, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich, Paris and Stockholm. Amsterdam is an observer on the group. The group aims to complement and add value to other local or European financial associations in their relationships with the different authorities and stakeholders; and to pave the way to consensus-making processes on major European issues.
2. The conference, the first convened by the Roundtable, included contributions from:
Dr. Angelika Schlunck, Director of the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU (hosting the event);
Pablo Rivera, co-ordinator of the European Financial Centres Roundtable;
Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services (keynote speech);
a distinguished panel embracing diverse viewpoints on the role of financial centres and financial services (detail above).
3. Media inquiries to Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise. Email: okelly@sfe.org.uk mobile +44 7812 408706.
4. Photgraphs of the event are available here :
http://www.yousendit.com/download/TEhVT2pKTlFxRTJGa2RVag
5. Michel Barnier’s full speech is available here:
http://www.efir.eufiles/file7595592.pdf
Contact : Edouard-François de LENCQUESAING, Managing Director, EIFR, Special Adviser, Paris Europlace, efl@paris-europlace.com/ 01 49 27 13 75
About Paris EUROPLACE
Paris EUROPLACE is the organization in charge of promoting and developing the Paris financial marketplace. It brings together and represents the entire French financial industry stakeholders: issuers, investors, banks, insurance companies and financial intermediaries, markets authorities, etc. Paris EUROPLACE undertakes four major activities to promote and develop the Paris financial market: international promotion, European actions, Lobbying, studies and research programs. www.paris-europlace.net
About European Institute of Financial Regulation (EIFR)
EIFR’s mission is to develop and support a “smart regulation” through knowledge sharing between Regulators and Regulatees, in France and abroad. EIFR organizes conferences and seminars on financial regulation to improve understanding, leverage results of research and disseminate best-practices (29 events organized this year reaching 2500 persons). EIFR was launched in 2008 by Paris EUROPLACE’s initiative with the main actors of the Paris Financial Center, with the support of the French Treasury.www.eifr.eu
BRUSSELS - FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2012
EU FINANCIAL CENTRES BREAK NEW GROUND WITH CONFERENCE FOR USERS AND PROVIDERS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES – BARNIER SUPPORTS
In this critical period for Europe, the role of a robust network of financial centres to leverage the necessary value of financial services to the economies of the EU was debated on Wednesday 6 September, at the first conference of the European Financial Centres Roundtable. The new grouping of leading financial centres in the EU welcomed Commissioner Michel Barnier’s comments at the conference, supporting the contribution financial services make to the wider economy.
In his keynote speech at the conference, held at the Representation to the EU of the Free State of Bavaria, Commissioner Michel Barnier said:
“European financial centres have a key role and must be able to rise to today's challenges for the European economy. We need to make sure that people regain confidence in the financial sector. And that the financial sector supports growth and investment."
He continued
"My agenda is to put in place European rules in support of these goals of promoting growth and restoring financial stability.”
There was a panel discussion, chaired by Edouard de Lencquesaing of Paris Europlace, with the participation of Elizabeth Corley, CEO, Allianz Global Investors; Santiago Fernández de Lis, Chief Economist for Financial Systems and Regulation, BBVA Research; Susannah Haan, Secretary General, European Issuers; Gerhard Huemer, Director Economy and Fiscal Policy, European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Dr. Wolf Klinz, Member of the European Parliament; and Thierry Philipponnat, Secretary General, Finance Watch.
The panel discussion was recognised as breaking new ground in linking EU policy and financial architecture with the real concerns of individual financial centres and their clients over the balance of predictability and risk in the challenges they face, and in ensuring the sustainability of their businesses.
The co-ordinator of the Roundtable, Pablo Rivera of Madrid Centro Financiero, said:
“The members of the Roundtable are fully committed to working together to develop an efficient EU financial services industry with global reach, in the interests of the real economy, and to leverage as a coherent strength the diversity embodied in our group.”
Emphasising the value of financial centres to their many and various users, he said:
"Financial Centres act as service centres that optimize the interaction between the different elements of the system (users, markets, issuers, intermediaries, supervisors), either as regards large corporations or SMEs."
"The members of the “European Financial Centres Roundtable” that I represent here today, are fully committed to working together to promote globally the EU´s financial services industry, in the interests of financial services users".
“The European Financial Centres Roundtable comes to light today with the idea of providing the maximum support to those interested in making the European Financial System a worldwide recognized brand, while working in serving financial services users, in rebuilding trust in our markets and, in finding responses to our big question of this conference today “How do financial centres contribute to the wider economy?".”
Notes to editors
1. The European Financial Centres Roundtable is an informal affiliation of EU financial centres. Its members are Edinburgh, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich, Paris and Stockholm. Amsterdam is an observer on the group. The group aims to complement and add value to other local or European financial associations in their relationships with the different authorities and stakeholders; and to pave the way to consensus-making processes on major European issues.
2. The conference, the first convened by the Roundtable, included contributions from:
Dr. Angelika Schlunck, Director of the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU (hosting the event);
Pablo Rivera, co-ordinator of the European Financial Centres Roundtable;
Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services (keynote speech);
a distinguished panel embracing diverse viewpoints on the role of financial centres and financial services (detail above).
3. Media inquiries to Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise. Email: okelly@sfe.org.uk mobile +44 7812 408706.
4. Photgraphs of the event are available here :
http://www.yousendit.com/download/TEhVT2pKTlFxRTJGa2RVag
5. Michel Barnier’s full speech is available here:
http://www.efir.eufiles/file7595592.pdf
Contact : Edouard-François de LENCQUESAING, Managing Director, EIFR, Special Adviser, Paris Europlace, efl@paris-europlace.com/ 01 49 27 13 75
About Paris EUROPLACE
Paris EUROPLACE is the organization in charge of promoting and developing the Paris financial marketplace. It brings together and represents the entire French financial industry stakeholders: issuers, investors, banks, insurance companies and financial intermediaries, markets authorities, etc. Paris EUROPLACE undertakes four major activities to promote and develop the Paris financial market: international promotion, European actions, Lobbying, studies and research programs. www.paris-europlace.net
About European Institute of Financial Regulation (EIFR)
EIFR’s mission is to develop and support a “smart regulation” through knowledge sharing between Regulators and Regulatees, in France and abroad. EIFR organizes conferences and seminars on financial regulation to improve understanding, leverage results of research and disseminate best-practices (29 events organized this year reaching 2500 persons). EIFR was launched in 2008 by Paris EUROPLACE’s initiative with the main actors of the Paris Financial Center, with the support of the French Treasury.www.eifr.eu