The European Commission is consulting on obstacles to financial market integration across the EU. The effort is a key part of rolling out the savings and investments union (SIU) strategy adopted on 19 March 2025. The SIU strategy aims to boost the EU economy by improving the way the EU financial system mobilizes savings towards productive investments, offering more and better financial opportunities for both citizens and businesses.
Currently, various barriers, including those stemming from legal, regulatory, technological, and operational practices, hinder the full integration and efficiency of EU capital markets. Divergences in supervisory practices can also act as a barrier to capital‑market integration, as financial‑market participants operating across borders must manage different requirements across the single market. All of this prevents financial-market participants from benefiting from economies of scale and operational efficiency, ultimately increasing costs and restricting the availability of financial services to businesses and citizens.
This consultation seeks to identify and address such barriers to facilitate a more market-driven process for developing and integrating EU capital markets, thereby enhancing financial opportunities and boosting economic competitiveness.