The Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at the Université Libre de Bruxelles are pleased to invite you to an afternoon discussion on
How Europe needs to rethink competitiveness and financial sovereignty in a new global context
to be held on 21 October 2025
Representation of the State of Hesse to the European Union, Rue Montoyer 21, B-1000 Brussels
The workshop will feature a policy panel and the presentation of three papers, two of which were prepared for the European Parliament's ECON committee. Europe has recently pivoted to regulatory simplification with the aim of boosting competitiveness. We argue, however, that in banking the debate needs to go beyond competitiveness and be embedded within a broader strategic vision fit for the new geopolitical context.
This broader vision should consider:
• the dependence on the US dollar–centric financial system,
• the increasing complexity of global financial networks,
• the emergence of new financial technologies such as stablecoins.
At the same time, the strategy should bolster the euro’s use in trade, finance, and reserves to reduce Europe’s exposure to external financial shocks and geopolitical leverage. By enhancing trust in our financial institutions, this strategy would contribute to their competitiveness and to that of the overall EU economy.
Agenda
12:00 – 12:30 Registration and lunch
12:30 – 12:40 Welcome remarks
Florian Heider (Scientific Director, SAFE)
Jochen Presl (Head of Unit EU Financial Market Policy & Financial Centre Frankfurt am Main)
12:40 – 13:30 Policy paper presentations
- In the new geopolitical context, Europe’s banking discussions need to go beyond competitiveness
Authors: Dewatripont, Praet, Sapir, Wolff
- How have European banks developed along different dimensions of international competitiveness?
Authors: Heider, Krahnen, Schlegel, Pelizzon
- How have European banks developed along different dimensions of international competitiveness?
Author: Resti
13:30 – 14:30 Policy Panel: Europe’s Global Moment: Rethinking Competitiveness and Financial Sovereignty
Chair: Guntram Wolff (Professor, Solvay Brussels School, ULB)
Speakers:
• John Berrigan (Director General, DG FISMA, European Commission)
• Rebecca Christie (Senior Fellow, Bruegel)
• Florian Heider (Scientific Director, SAFE)
14:30 – 15:30 Coffee break & networking
With the friendly support of the Representation of the State of Hessen to the European Union
