Savings and Investments Union Academy

1. Understand the strategic goals of the Savings and Investments Union
Grasp the rationale behind the SIU as a foundational pillar of EU financial integration, including its role in mobilising long-term savings, enhancing private risk-sharing, and supporting the EU’s green, digital, and geopolitical ambitions.

2. Analyse legal, institutional, and market barriers to integration
Identify key obstacles to cross-border capital flows, including divergent national regulations, fragmented supervisory practices, and limited market infrastructure.

3. Evaluate policy instruments and regulatory initiatives under the SIU framework
Examine core EU legislative and regulatory developments—such as ELTIF reforms, sustainable finance frameworks, the proposed “28th regime”, and insolvency harmonisation—and their implications for public authorities.

4. Assess the role of public authorities in advancing SIU objectives
Clarify the roles and responsibilities of central banks, supervisory bodies, and finance ministries in implementing SIU-related reforms and fostering both retail and institutional market participation.

5. Explore the interplay between SIU and other EU agendas
Understand how the SIU interacts with related initiatives, such as the Banking Union and broader EU policy agendas (digital, sustainable, industrial, and strategic autonomy), and how to align policies across these domains.

6. Develop practical insights on cross-border supervision and rule harmonisation
Gain tools to navigate supervisory cooperation, data interoperability, and legal harmonisation efforts, with a focus on improving investor confidence, reducing fragmentation, and promoting consistent rule application across Member States.

Monday, 2 March 2026

12:30 – 13:30 Light lunch

13:30 – 14:30 Opening session | Thorsten Beck (EUI), Pierre Schlosser (EUI), and Naïs Ralaison (EUI) 

14:30 – 16:00 Session 1 – From CMU Action Plans to the Savings and Investments Union: a historical and Strategic Overview | María del Carmen Sandoval Velasco (EUI)

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break 

16:30 – 18:00 Session 2 – A comparison with the US and Asia | Thorsten Beck (EUI), Lorenzo Moretti (EUI)

18:00 – 18:30 Cocktail

18:30 – 19:25 Keynote speech by Michala Marcussen (SocGen) on Safe Assets and the Savings and Investments Union 

19:25 – 20:30 Dinner at the EUI Premises 

Tuesday, 3 March 2026

09:30 – 10:00 Rebuilding the Frame: Calibrating Mindset and Momentum | Naïs Railson (EUI)

10:00 – 11:00 Session 3  – How to break the gridlock: the Idea of a 28th Regime | Diletta Lenzi (University of Genoa)

11:30 – 13:00 Session 4 – Pensions – The case of the Netherlands | Johan Barnard (APG)  

13:00 – 14:00  Lunch break and group picture

14:00 – 15:15 Session 5 – Practical activity – Retail investor participation | Cathal Coffey (EUI) 

15:15 – 16:00 Session 6 – Securitization in a Nutshell | Pierre Schlosser (EUI) and Cathal Coffey (EUI) 

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break

16:30 – 17:30 Session 7 – Keynote Speech by Petra Hielkema (EIOPA) followed by Q&A  

17:30 – 18:20 Light aperitivo

Wednesday, 4 March 2026

09:45 – 11:00 Session 8 – Interactive activity | Thorsten Beck (EUI)

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break  

11:30 – 13:00 Session 9 – The Current Supervisory Architecture Including on Direct Supervision, using mini-case studies | Cristina Iudice (ESMA) 

13:00 – 14:15 Lunch break

14:15 – 15:15 Session 10 – Unlocking Venture Capital and Private Equity Markets | Lorenzo Moretti (EUI)  

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break

15:30 – 16:45 Session 11 – Closing Panel on the Completion of SIU | moderated by Thorsten Beck (EUI)  

• Jakub Michalik (Euronext) 
• Andrea Beltramello (DG FISMA)  
• Cristina Iudice (ESMA)  
• Rebecca Christie (Bruegel)  
• María del Carmen Sandoval Velasco (EUI)  

16:45 – 17:00 Concluding remarks and next FBF initiatives on SIU | Thorsten Beck (EUI), Pierre Schlosser (EUI) and Naïs Ralaison (EUI) 

17:00 – 18:00 Aperitivo

The Savings and Investments Union Academy is designed for professionals shaping EU financial policy, regulation, and investment. It is especially relevant for officials from EU institutions, national authorities, and international partners, as well as experts from think tanks, academia, finance, fintech, and legal sectors. While open to all, the course is particularly valuable for those advancing capital markets integration, regulatory convergence, and sustainable investment across Europe.

To apply for the Savings and Investments Union Academy, prospective participants are required to submit a curriculum vitae and a brief cover letter (max 350 words). The cover letter should outline the applicant’s professional background and explain how they believe they can contribute to the SIU Academy’s discussions. We are particularly interested in understanding how the applicant’s experience—whether in policymaking, regulation, academia, finance, or related fields—can enrich the collective learning experience. Applications will be reviewed with a view to fostering a diverse and dynamic cohort, bringing together voices from across institutions, sectors, and geographies.

Applications will be assessed in two rounds:

• Early round: closes on 15 December. Candidates who apply by this date will secure their chance to attend the exclusive Florence School of Banking and Finance Annual Conference on the Savings and Investments Union (5–6 March).
• Final round: closes on 30 January. Applications received after 15 December and before this deadline will be reviewed in the second round.

All applications, regardless of the round, will be evaluated with the same selection criteria.

FULL FEES*:

€ 950 – Academics
€ 2100 – Public sector
€ 2300 – Private sector

*Please note that the payment must be settled one week before the start of the course.

The fee includes tuition, access to all course materials and pedagogic activities, coffee and lunch breaks and social activities, as well as a certificate of attendance after the course has been completed. The fee does not include travel and accommodation expenses or other local transportation costs (taxis, private cars).

Please submit a certificate attesting your status of Professor, PhD Student or Research Associate to fbf@eui.eu before registering. FBF secretariat will provide you with a code to register. Seats for academics are limited.

FEE WAIVER OPPORTUNITIES:

Up to five fee waiver opportunities (travel and accommodation not included) are available for candidates from the public sector or academia who can demonstrate a clear interest or relevant experience in working at the nexus between sustainability and capital markets. Applicants wishing to be considered should explicitly indicate this in their motivation letter at the time of application. These fee waiver opportunities are generously sponsored by the European Climate Foundation (ECF).

PUBLIC SECTOR EU WIDENING FEES (-30%):

This discount applies to public sector employees in the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Eligible participants should provide official proof of public sector employment in one of the above countries to benefit from the reduced fee.

€ 1470 – (Discount code available by writing to fbf@eui.eu)

CANCELLATION POLICY

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 15 days before the start date of the course by contacting fbf@eui.eu.