On 19 March 2025, the European Commission (Commission) adopted its strategy for the savings and investments union (SIU).

More inclusive and citizen-focused

The SIU draws on progress already made under the two Capital Markets Union (CMU) action plans and the parallel efforts to develop the Banking Union. Compared to previous efforts of the CMU, the SIU is designed to be more inclusive and citizen-focused, placing a renewed emphasis on supporting the wealth and well-being of citizens.

Communication

The Commission has published a Communication which is intended to provide a strategic framework that encourages the effective alignment of all aspects of the EU financial system. It includes initiatives and policy actions along four strands of work: (1) citizens and savings; (2) investments and financing; (3) integration and scale; (4) efficient supervision in the Single Market. It also includes actions aimed at enhancing the integration and competitiveness of the EU banking sector, including through the deepening of the Banking Union.

In terms of investments and financing the proposed policy measures include:

  • By Q4 2025 the Commission will take measures to stimulate equity investments by institutional investors. For banks, the Commission will give guidance on the use of the favourable prudential treatment for investments under legislative programmes.
  • By Q3 2026, the Commission will put forward measures to support exits by investors in private companies, possibly through multilateral intermittent trading of private company shares.
  • In Q2 2025 the Commission will issue proposals focusing on simplifying due diligence and transparency and adjusting prudential requirements for banks and insurers.

Proposed policy measures for integration and scale include:

  • In Q4 2025 the Commission will come forward with a package of legislative proposals including rules on central securities depositories, financial collateral and settlement and on the trading market structure, with the aim of further removing barriers to cross-border activity, modernising the legislative framework to recognise new technologies and financial developments, as well as ensuring better quality of execution and price formation on EU trading venues, whilst reducing administrative burden.
  • In Q4 2025 the Commission will propose legislation to remove remaining barriers – national or at EU level – to the distribution of EU-authorised funds across the EU.

Next steps

The actions proposed in the strategy will be further developed in the period ahead. Implementing the SIU will rest on both legislative and non-legislative measures, and on measures to be developed by the Member States themselves. Packages of measures will be taken in a limited range of areas with the most impactful actions being given priority in 2025. In Q2 2027, the Commission will publish a mid-term review of the overall progress in achieving the SIU.