[Event on invitation only]
On Thursday 30th of November from 12:30 to 14:30 am, the EACB will organise a lunch debate at the European Parliament on the topic of 'Towards sustainable Finance in EU: the role of co-operative banks', kindly hosted by MEP S. Pietikainen.
Background and scope
In the run-up to the final recommendations of the EU Commission’s High Level Experts Group on Sustainable Finance, the lunch debate is a platform for dialogue with stakeholders. It is also an opportunity to share views and discuss the contributions of co-operative banks in sustainable finance.
As local and regional banks, co-operatives play a key role in financing the energy transition (investment or savings products, project financing; green financing of SMEs, energy efficiency of private and public buildings or green bonds), due to their long-term engagement with their members, clients and the communities they belong to. From this perspective, co-operative banks consider that a greater emphasis must be placed on the retail side of green financing: by promoting tools that are conducive of regional green growth via SMEs, households and local actors.
On the other hand, the current complexity and continuous motion of the regulatory framework is heavily affecting local co-operative banks and local players. Additionally, there is a risk that regulation will lead to a less diverse banking environment thus undermining the sustainability and stability of the financial framework in Europe. Those are key issues to address in the debate on sustainable finance.
The lunch debate will address the following questions:
- What is the HLEG likely to propose in its final recommendations?
- What are the possible measures envisaged by EU Commission and Parliament?
- Why diversity in the banking sector is important in the debate on sustainable finance?
- What are the contributions of co-operative banks? What are their challenges and views on the way forward?
Draft Agenda
Opening and welcome
• Sirpa PIETIKAINEN, MEP (EPP), Member of ECON
• Etienne PFLIMLIN, Chair, EACB TF Sutainable Finance, Executive Committee Member and Honorary President of Credit Mutuel
Statements
• Martin Koch and Michelle Kosmidis, Coordinators HLEGSF, DG FISMA, EU Commission
• Maarten Biermans, Head of ESG Policy, Rabobank
• Paul Tang, MEP (S&D), Member of ECON
Discussion with the audience
Moderation and Conclusions
• Hervé GUIDER, General Manager, European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB)
If you would like to attend the event, please contact Elisa Bevilacqua.
[Event on invitation only]