As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Florence School of Banking and Finance and 50 years of the European University Institute, the 2026 Annual Conference will convene under the theme 'The EU Savings and Investment Union: Opportunities for European Savers and European Companies.'

Set against the backdrop of Europe’s renewed drive to deepen its capital markets, the conference will examine the policy trade-offs involved in shaping a Savings and Investment Union (SIU) that can meet both the long-term financial goals of European citizens and the investment needs of businesses across the continent by fostering the cross-border provision of risk capital.

Discussions will address the institutional, regulatory, and market frameworks needed to overcome the persistent fragmentation of European capital markets and to unlock long-term investment at scale. Particular attention will be given to the obstacles facing science-based innovation and to the role that venture capital and private equity can play in strengthening Europe’s technological leadership. In doing so, the event will tackle the fundamental question of whether better-functioning financial markets alone can deliver Europe’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness objectives.

The conference will also explore how to design capital markets that serve a clear strategic purpose. The SIU is rapidly gaining prominence in policy debates as a potential answer to a wide range of shared European priorities — including innovation, growth, climate goals, defence capabilities, and economic resilience amid global competition and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Promoting attractive asset classes for European savers, while channelling capital toward these strategic objectives, will require a sophisticated policy toolkit with implications for public investment, regulation, and supervision.

Held over two days at the European University Institute, the event will bring together leading voices from academia, policymaking, and industry to debate the structure, purpose, and future of an integrated European investment landscape.

The programme will feature keynote speeches from senior EU officials and distinguished academics, alongside interactive sessions ranging from expert-led breakout discussions to thematic panels. The 2026 Annual Conference promises a unique and dynamic forum for charting the next phase of the EU’s financial integration agenda.