EU Finance - The Future of Finance

Back in December of 2022, the EU decided to create a new role of International Special Envoy for the Implementation of EU Sanctions to ensure continuous, high-level discussions with third countries to avoid the evasion or even the circumvention of the unprecedented sanctions that have been imposed on Russia since the start of its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine and the West. EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with David O'Sullivan, a former Secretary-General of the Commission and senior EU diplomat, the EU Sanctions Envoy.

Governments borrow. The EU borrows. It borrows to get stuff done. EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with Niall Bohan, the EU Commission’s Director for Asset, debt and financial Risk management in the Budget department. They walk through how the EU issues debt, how our bonds, EU bonds, work, why they work and why they’re a big, good deal. And they have some laughs along the way.

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Axel Fougner – the EU Commission’s foremost authority on the European Green Bond Standard. Axel gives Aidas an explanation about EUGBS, how it’s going to work, why it’s going to work, and who is going to make it work. If you’re green behind the ears about bonds that might help save the planet, this episode is for you. If you’re ready to go green in your finances, give this one a listen.

Your intrepid EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas has a quick-fire chat with Jenny Robertson, the head of the EU's Financial Markets Infrastructure unit. They're talking about something that deals with mind-boggling amounts of money. Tens of trillions of Euro. Yes, TENS of TRILLIONS of Euro. They're going to clear the air. They're going to clear the way to a better understanding of financial markets infrastructure. They're going to clear up any misunderstanding about why the EU is doing it. They're going to talk about clearing.

Brussels woke up to a clean blanket of snow this morning. It’s like there’s a beautiful single space, ready and waiting for new opportunities. Sounds like a metaphor for the EU, no? When your host Aidas Palubinskas came to work for DG FISMA, what he likes to call the EU’s Ministry of Finance - work on the Capital Markets Union – the CMU - was just getting started. The CMU is a big project, and can sound complicated sometimes. And often, it is. At its core, the Capital Markets Union is a plan to create a single market for capital in the EU. The aim is to get money – investments and savings, including those of us – ordinary savers and consumers – flowing across and around the EU so that it can benefit consumers, investors, and companies, regardless of where they are located. Putting money to work to keep the machinery of our economy moving and growing. In other words, jobs and growth, kids, jobs and growth! Aidas talks to Tanya Panova, the head of the EU Commission’s CMU department in an energetic, and fun conversation, where Aidas probably gets in a little over his head.

Instant coffee, instant oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, instant gratification.  We want it all, and we want it now.  So, we’re going to talk about instant payments.  On 26 October 2022, the European Commission put forward a legislative proposal on establishing instant payments. Wait, what?  Don’t we already have that?  Your host, Aidas Palubinskas, who knows just enough to get himself into trouble, talks with Eric Ducoulombier, the European Commission’s head for retail finance. They talk about the EU nudging the retail payments industry on instant payments and what benefits accrue to EU citizens and business, as well as how it’s going to help with Russia sanctions.

In response to the extremely volatile prices caused by Russia’s weaponisation of energy, on 18 October 2022, the EU Commission proposed a new emergency regulation to address high gas prices in the EU and ensure security of supply this winter. This will be done through joint gas purchasing, price limiting mechanisms on the TTF gas exchange, new measures on transparent infrastructure use, solidarity between Member States, and continuous efforts to reduce gas demand. Aidas Palubinskas chats with the EU Commission’s Director General for Finance Sean Berrigan about the financial markets aspects.

Back in 2021, the European Commission presented an ambitious package of legislative proposals to strengthen the EU rules on anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT). This included the proposal for the creation of a new EU authority to fight money laundering. Aidas Palubinskas talks with DG FISMA’s Deputy Director General Alexandra Jour Schroeder.

Letizia Lupini talks to Alain Deckers – head of the asset management unit – about what the EU is doing to promote sustainable finance and how investors can make sure they invest green.

Aidas Palubinskas talks to Jan Ceyssens about all things digital – including cryptocurrencies, cyber risks, the digital euro, privacy, and consent.