BPFI’s Consultation Response on the Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026
BPFI has recently submitted a response to the Department of Foreign Affairs consultation on the Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.
As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, it faces a pivotal opportunity to shape the EU’s policy agenda at a time of geopolitical turbulence and intense legislative activity, including for financial services. Ireland’s Presidency should therefore be defined by a future-oriented vision for the EU, underpinned by three overarching themes aimed at fostering economic competitiveness.
Our key recommendations:
- Driving Forward and Completing the Savings and Investment Union (SIU): Advancing the SIU is essential to closing this gap and restoring the EU’s global competitiveness. Ireland should use its Presidency to drive forward the SIU strategy, developing deeper and more liquid capital markets, breaking down internal barriers and boosting retail investor participation. Key actions include harmonising supervisory outcomes, removing barriers to cross-border investment, revitalising the securitisation market and promoting financial literacy across Member States.
- Simplification of the Regulatory Framework: The EU’s financial services sector is hampered by complex regulations. Ireland’s Presidency can drive a simpler, more proportionate approach by tailoring rules to institutions’ size and risk, reducing red tape and unlocking investment. Key steps include streamlining the macroprudential framework, reassessing how systemically important firms are identified and creating a specific regime for investment firms.
- Strengthening and Harmonising Financial Architecture: To unlock the Single Market’s potential, the EU should harmonise its financial architecture by converging supervision, aligning insolvency laws and creating a unified capital markets framework. Ireland’s financial expertise makes it well placed to lead these efforts for a stronger, integrated EU system.
BPFI looks forward to engaging with policymakers in the lead-up to and during Ireland’s Presidency to ensure that the evolving discussions deliver real progress for the EU’s financial future.
