Olivier Guersent, Director-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union for the European Commission, will be giving a keynote speech in Oxford on the 7th November 2018.

Following the outbreak of the financial crisis the EU has put forward unprecedented reforms to secure financial stability and improve the supervision of financial markets. The mission of the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), which Olivier leads, is to monitor the effectiveness of these reforms, ensure that EU legislation is fully implemented, and to respond to emerging financial risks.

In addition, DG FISMA are working to develop well-regulated, stable, and globally competitive financial markets. To improve access to capital for businesses, especially SMEs, and thereby promote growth and job creation, they have brought forward initiatives to create an EU capital markets union. This includes globally significant work on sustainable finance.

The EU High-level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance published its final report in January 2018 and this was rapidly followed by the EC Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth and the adoption of a proposed EU legislative package on sustainable finance. The proposals have implications for financial institutions and capital markets across Europe (whether EU or non-EU) and internationally.

Olivier will share his perspectives on these developments and what the future of sustainable finance in Europe could look like. His keynote will be followed by a Q&A and then a drinks reception.

To apply for a place please email: events@smithschool.ox.ac.uk