European Union

“The EPP found itself isolated,” a parliamentary staffer said

Europe can decarbonise its roads if it invests now, with much of the cost offset by sustainable economic returns

Industry groups dismiss findings as “sensationalism” amid calls for tighter regulation

France backs compromise despite earlier concerns over deforestation rules

Written by Issam Hallak.

The EU is facing the challenge of mobilising massive investments required to meet its strategic priorities and must find effective ways to finance them. In response, the European Commission published the savings and investments union (SIU) action plan on 19 March 2025, designed to channel EU savings into productive investments. This briefing presents an overview of the plan.

The SIU was launched in the context of the Draghi and Letta reports, which set out recommendations for strengthening the EU’s single market and competitiveness. Announced in the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass (the January 2025 roadmap to restore and boost the EU’s economic dynamism), it places strong importance on mobilising private financing for key EU priorities such as innovation, digitalisation, defence and the green transition. The SIU seeks to further integrate the EU’s financial system and make its capital markets more attractive to investors.

The SIU is structured around four work strands. The first focuses on the demand side – savers and investors – promoting effective savings instruments that link citizens’ savings with productive investments. The second targets the supply side by expanding financing options for firms. The remaining two strands aim to strengthen market infrastructure and advance supervisory convergence, which could, in specific areas, evolve towards a single supervisory framework. Key proposals include amendments to securitisation rules (ongoing), revised rules and products for supplementary pensions, and measures to improve financial market infrastructure. The SIU has received support from the European Parliament through its September 2025 resolution on EU competitiveness, which also makes some remarks and offers further directions for action.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Savings and investments union: Overview and state of play‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The EU is aiming to simplify rules to allow national militaries to move across the continent quickly

MEPs and governments nervous about public reaction to spike in cost of petrol and gas

With China dominant and the US accelerating, Europe’s first gallium project exposes both semiconductor progress and vulnerability

The Commission pitches billions in cost savings with the digital tool aimed at making it easier for companies to do business across EU borders

From inclusion and emotional well-being to equal access to talent-building opportunities and a fair sustainability transition, young people want Europe to evolve

The high-profile death has led Germany to reevaluate laws regulating assisted suicide

This sinks a months-long effort by caretaker leader Albin Kurti to secure a third term

Washington is quietly testing a new US-Russia draft plan to end the Ukraine war, sparking unease in Kyiv and Europe.

A DG TAXUD official said the EU's new Tobacco Taxation Directive is a “very important step” to help stop smoking

The move marks a rare moment of collaboration between the Italian prime minister and the opposition leader

“This regulation will allow for more trains on the network, without major investments,” Green MEP Tilly Metz said

Researchers say Meta’s tracking tech bypassed protections, prompting Congress hearing

The border closure inflamed tensions between Lithuania and Belarus, a close ally of Russia

The 'stop the clock' plan would mean application of high-risk AI rules hinges on when standards are completed, but Council and Parliament will still need to okay the delay

The Commission's 2030 consumer agenda confirms that the Digital Fairness Act will seek to boost online protections for "vulnerable" minors