By Jochen Werne, Photos: Wirtschaftsrat, Experian
On June 26, 2025, I had the distinct privilege of participating in the Financial Market Symposium (Finanzmarktklausur), expertly organised by the Wirtschaftsrat in Frankfurt. This prestigious gathering, greatly moderated by Corinna Egerer, brought together key stakeholders from politics, banking, finance, and technology to deliberate on critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Europe’s financial markets.
Astrid Hamker, President of the Wirtschaftsrat, and Hans-Joachim Reinke, Chairman of the Financial Markets Commission, opened the conference by articulating a crucial imperative: Europe’s banks and capital markets must forge stronger ties with the real economy. Their message resonated clearly, highlighting the need for Europe to innovate and adapt swiftly to remain competitive globally.
EU Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque delivered a compelling keynote about the Savings and Investment Union (SIU), emphasizing its role as a catalyst for overcoming the persistent fragmentation within Europe’s capital markets. She presented a vision for a unified financial ecosystem that would enable seamless capital flow, crucial for funding innovation and growth. Her insights underscored the urgency of deepening Europe’s financial integration and boosting private investment.
Throughout the event, high-caliber discussions featuring leaders from significant financial institutions such as Mark Branson, President of BAFin, Dr. Stephan Leithner, CEO of Deutsche Börse AG, Tobias Vogel, CEO of UBS Europe SE Deutsche Bank, Frank Scheidig of DZ Bank AG, Eddy Henning, Wholesale-Board member of ING DiBa AG, Nicola Beer Vice-President of the European Investmentbank (EIB), Sandra Veseli, Managing Director of Moody’s Deutschland, Stefan Meine, Member of the Board of Bethmann Bank, Sadia Wern-Sukhera, CEO of Vertevis Capital Partners, und Dr. Ingrid Hengster, CEO of Barclays Germany, Stefan Hafke, CEO of Citi Bank Germany, Lutz Diederichs, CEO of BNP Paribas Deutschland und Souâd Benkredda, Member of the Board of DZ BANK AG, among others, highlighted the necessity for technological advancement within traditional financial systems and the evolving necessity of strengthening the European financial system.
Particularly insightful were the contributions by Burkhard Balz, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Bundesbank, who adeptly moderated a session on digital currencies and the future of payments. His session illuminated the complexities surrounding the digital Euro and its implications for the European financial system, emphasizing innovation as a driving force behind competitive advantage.
Moreover, the panel discussion participants stressed the criticality of embracing digital transformation and AI-driven technologies to enhance service efficiency and customer experience.
The event also featured a dynamic panel on “Digital Money – Between Innovation and Security,” moderated by Simon Seiter, Managing Director and CFO/CPO of AllUnity, who highlighted that the greater risk lies in missing innovation opportunities. Panelists included Dr. Benon Z. Janos, CFO of flatexDEGIRO, and Tobias Czekalla, Country Manager Germany at Visa. Together with myself, they contributed in a power talk discussion valuable insights on the delicate balance between driving financial innovation and ensuring consumer trust and security.
Prof. Dr. Sascha Steffen from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management provided a scientific perspective, emphasizing the critical importance of developing capital-covered pension schemes to strengthen capital markets and ensure sustainable growth. Additionally, Wolfgang Steiger, Secretary General of the Wirtschaftsrat, offered compelling closing remarks, calling for reduced regulatory burdens and advocating for a supportive political environment to foster market competitiveness.
Alongside myself, Experian was represented by my esteemed colleagues Kahled Rahman, COO of Experian DACH, and Kai-Uwe König, Sales Director Financial Services Experian DACH. Our joint contributions focused on advocating for a regulatory environment that supports and accelerates financial innovation. Regulatory clarity and an open dialogue between market participants and policymakers are essential to foster innovation, reduce barriers, and enable financial institutions to embrace new technologies effectively.
Reflecting on this impactful gathering, I am convinced Europe stands at a pivotal moment. It is essential to leverage collective strengths, drive forward digital innovation, and ensure inclusive growth. The Finanzmarktklausur has powerfully underscored that cooperation between political leaders, regulators, financial institutions, technology providers, and innovative startups is crucial for shaping a robust financial future for Europe.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Wirtschaftsrat for facilitating this crucial dialogue and look forward to continued engagement on these vital topics, ensuring Europe’s financial sector emerges stronger, more integrated, and better positioned for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
