Link to the Declaration
Link to the study "Co-operative banks' engagement to sustainable finance"
Link to the press release
Organised every two years, the EACB convention is a landmark event for co-operative banks at European and international level. This year, due to the Covid-19 crisis it will be organised online as a webinar. The event will be an opportunity to listen to and exchange with high level regulators, supervisors, and policy makers and representatives of the co-operative banking sector.
What will be the topics on the agenda?
The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted life around the world. The pandemic places many challenges for banks and local co-operative banks. Governments and Europe have issued relief packages to help SME’s and corporate afloat during the pandemic, but repairing the economy will require a new deal for more solidarity. European banks finance more than 80% of the economy and are therefore "part of the solution".
- Does the current regulatory environment give banks, and in particular co-operative banks, the means and incentives to fully play their role in supporting SMEs and households?
- The increase in risks in a context of low profitability related to the level of interest rates raises questions about the sustainability of business models.
- What is the leeway to continue or even accelerate the digitalisation of retail banking?
This health crisis should not hide climate change neither and the risks associated with it. Co-operative banks are engaged at all levels in this fight over the long term. The authorities had announced ambitious objectives and started to implement programs to meet the challenges and respect the Paris agreement.
- What will happen in the future?
- Is the transition to a green and sustainable economy being called into question?
- What will remain of the European Green deal?
The health crisis and the climate crisis has highlighted the strength and the weakness of the market economy. Many consider that tomorrow's world will be different and will require more solidarity, more interdependence between individuals, more ethics and more respect for the environment. Co-operative banks and their specific model anchored in the local economy share these concerns. The values they convey of mutual aid, proximity, good governance and participatory democracy are an illustration of this.
Confirmed speakers:
• Alban Aucoin, Head of Group Public Affairs, Crédit Agricole S.A.
• Pierre-Edouard Batard, General Director, Confédération Nationale du Crédit Mutuel
• Sanna Eriksson, Managing Director, OP Mortgage Bank
• Marcel Haag, Director, DG FISMA, European Commission
• Piers Haben, Director of Banking Markets, Innovation and Products, European Banking Authority
• Gerhard Hofmann, Member of the Board, National Association of German Cooperative Banks
• Korbinian Ibel, Director General, DG Universal & Diversified Institutions
• Othmar Karas, Vice-President, European Parliament
• Berry Marttin, President, European Association of Co-operative Banks
• Martin Merlin, Director, DG Fisma, European Commission
• Nicole Rosin, Head of Finance Department, Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the EU
• Irene Tinagli, President ECON Committee, European Parliament
Moderator
• Jacki Davis
When will it be ?
On Tuesday, 27th of October 2020 from 14:00 to 16:30 online
Download the programme