{"id":2018599,"date":"2026-06-29T04:47:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T01:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2018599"},"modified":"2026-06-29T04:47:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T01:47:53","slug":"the-big-question-whats-stopping-europeans-making-the-most-of-their-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2018599","title":{"rendered":"The Big Question: What&#8217;s stopping Europeans making the most of their money?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/37\/1200x675_cmsv2_03af6316-2834-540b-be54-268e9c7fef2c-9793937.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905938-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905938\" data-cid=\"9818199\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905938-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/81\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_1e97635f-c463-534d-83f7-053a4f3855c2-9818199.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Banner depicting slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kissing the head of late commander of the IRGC&apos;s Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, 29June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran says delegation heading to Qatar, denies talks scheduled with US\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904804-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2904804\" data-cid=\"9812948\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904804-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_1268c5ea-8e90-5f35-b2e1-54bbbec71e6c-9812948.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s former national security advisor, Jacob Nagel, during an interview with Euronews on 29 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU will &#8216;come to its senses&#8217; on Israel, former Netanyahu adviser says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905934-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905934\" data-cid=\"9818200\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905934-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/81\/71\/189x106_cmsv2_f9be239d-2abd-5d95-b6dc-f4c32f40a4f7-9818171.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"First vice-president and economy minister Carlos Cuerpo with Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation, in Madrid\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Business<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    World Bank strengthens ties with Spain from Madrid\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905892-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905892\" data-cid=\"9818030\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905892-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/80\/30\/189x106_cmsv2_580aabd7-835d-524a-bd26-9cf0c1a16fad-9818030.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Participants at Basel\u2019s yodelling festival sing in a fountain, Switzerland, 27 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Swiss yodellers rehearse in public fountains as Basel swelters\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905938-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905938\" data-cid=\"9818199\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905938-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/81\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_1e97635f-c463-534d-83f7-053a4f3855c2-9818199.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Banner depicting slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kissing the head of late commander of the IRGC&apos;s Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, 29June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran says delegation heading to Qatar, denies talks scheduled with US\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904804-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2904804\" data-cid=\"9812948\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904804-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_1268c5ea-8e90-5f35-b2e1-54bbbec71e6c-9812948.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s former national security advisor, Jacob Nagel, during an interview with Euronews on 29 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU will &#8216;come to its senses&#8217; on Israel, former Netanyahu adviser says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905934-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905934\" data-cid=\"9818200\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905934-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/81\/71\/189x106_cmsv2_f9be239d-2abd-5d95-b6dc-f4c32f40a4f7-9818171.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"First vice-president and economy minister Carlos Cuerpo with Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation, in Madrid\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Business<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    World Bank strengthens ties with Spain from Madrid\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905892-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905892\" data-cid=\"9818030\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905892-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/80\/30\/189x106_cmsv2_580aabd7-835d-524a-bd26-9cf0c1a16fad-9818030.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Participants at Basel\u2019s yodelling festival sing in a fountain, Switzerland, 27 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Swiss yodellers rehearse in public fountains as Basel swelters\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Business<\/p>\n<p>                          Business Series<\/p>\n<p>                          The Big Question<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            The Big Question: What&#8217;s stopping Europeans making the most of their money?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/37\/1536x864_cmsv2_03af6316-2834-540b-be54-268e9c7fef2c-9793937.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Chair of European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), Verena Ross on The Big Question\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Chair of European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), Verena Ross on The Big Question<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Euronews\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspHannah Brown&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbsp<b>Angela Barnes<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782708473\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-06-29 06:47:53 +02:00\">29\/06\/2026 &#8211; 6:47 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"share-comment-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        An estimated \u20ac37 trillion is sitting largely idle across the European Union. Why aren&#8217;t Europeans investing more, and what would it take to unlock that capital?<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--business js-article-content\">\n<p>Since its establishment in 2011, Verena Ross has held senior leadership roles at the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), serving first as Executive Director before becoming Chair in 2021.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>ESMA&#8217;s mission is to enhance investor protection, promote orderly financial markets and safeguard financial stability across Europe.<\/p>\n<p>As Ross prepares to step down as Chair in October 2026, Angela Barnes sat down with her for <em>The Big Question<\/em> to discuss Europe&#8217;s investment landscape, the challenges that remain, and the priorities awaiting her successor.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do more Americans invest than Europeans?<\/h2>\n<p>One of ESMA&#8217;s key priorities has been helping to implement the <strong>Capital Markets Union<\/strong> (CMU), the long-running initiative to deepen Europe&#8217;s financial markets, recently rebranded as the Savings and Investments Union (SIU).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe still have, as you say, more often 27 national markets than really a single European capital market,\u201d Verena explained.<\/p>\n<p>The SIU aims to further integrate the EU&#8217;s fragmented capital markets, reducing European companies&#8217; heavy reliance on bank lending while giving investors genuine cross-border opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Capital needs to flow as freely as people can within the European Union,&#8221; she added. Citizens, she argued, should feel equally free to make their money work for them wherever they choose to live and invest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo there has been a lot of consideration over the last year. How can we make a real step change here? How can we make sure that we use the extensive savings that we have in Europe and convert it into productive investment that supports growth and works for companies and investors?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Whenever Europe&#8217;s capital markets are discussed, comparisons with the US are inevitable. America&#8217;s markets are deeper, more liquid and supported by a stronger culture of investing,&#8221; Ross added.<\/p>\n<p>So what is holding Europeans back? Why are we less engaged with <strong>our capital markets<\/strong>? Is fragmentation alone to blame?<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/37\/808x454_cmsv2_9b168b88-ddf2-5e8d-86f4-c19cea5e3425-9793937.jpg\" alt=\"Verena Ross, chair of ESMA joined Angela Barnes on The Big Question\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Verena Ross, chair of ESMA joined Angela Barnes on The Big Question<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIn general, in Europe, people are probably slightly less financially literate, but that is not because they don&#8217;t have the intelligence or the wish to learn about it,\u201d Verena Ross told The Big Question. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s more the fact that in America, because you don&#8217;t have state guaranteed pay-as-you-go pension schemes, anyone who works and who needs to think about his <strong>old age<\/strong> needs to directly be engaged in thinking about investing in capital markets.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To encourage more Europeans to adopt this mindset, Ross argued that people need access to clearer, more accessible information and better tools for comparing investment options, enabling them to &#8220;understand the risks, the costs and the opportunities that come with investing in capital markets.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2018We are disruptors of the industry\u2019: Can sustainable aviation fuel protect airlines from fuel shock?<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2018Arrogant, resilient, optimistic\u2019: The secret traits for a successful entrepreneur?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Better pensions, stronger businesses?<\/h2>\n<p>How Europeans save their money doesn&#8217;t just affect their own long-term financial security. It also has wider implications for how businesses raise finance and how the European economy grows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the moment in Europe, still a large proportion of the financing comes through bank credit. But what we need to develop is a more diversified funding source\u2026 And in a way, it&#8217;s a win-win situation when you can bring that together, these savings and the productive investments that they can sponsor,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n<p>Europe&#8217;s reliance on bank credit means businesses can be more exposed when lending conditions tighten, while a significant share of household savings remains in bank deposits rather than being channelled through capital markets.<\/p>\n<p>Verena hopes the Savings and Investments Union will help broaden the range of financing available to businesses, encourage a more integrated capital market and make Europe more attractive to international investors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe live in a global world and particularly, capital markets are global by their nature. So we also need to be attractive to overseas investors, whether they are American, Asian or from wherever they come and make sure that Europe is a destination for that investment capital,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, she believes the challenge is to reduce the barriers created by fragmented national capital markets and build a more integrated market that benefits both European companies and investors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Road freight: The silent drivers of trade face high fuel prices and an ageing workforce<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Capital markets union imperative to build euro as global reserve, Lagarde says<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The future of investing in Europe<\/h2>\n<p>While Verena Ross is keen to improve public understanding of capital markets, she also warned about the risks of relying on poor-quality financial information from &#8220;finfluencers&#8221; and AI.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAI tools, I think, have a real role to play, but they provide both opportunities and they add risks,\u201d she highlighted while acknowledging that AI is a major source of information for people today. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the same time, we need to be clear that AI tools can have certain biases and can actually give you wrong information. So it&#8217;s also very important that investors don&#8217;t just trust blindly what is coming out of whatever AI tool that they use,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>As the ESMA Chair looks towards the end of her tenure, and has yet to announce her future plans, she hopes her successor will help realise a more integrated European capital market.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really hope in 10-15 years, we have a European capital market, that is deep and liquid, that provides the investment opportunities for investors to invest in European companies, and makes sure that the capital markets are there to support the European economy and its positioning and competitiveness in the world,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on the progress made in overcoming the longstanding barriers to a truly integrated European capital market.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Big Question<\/em><\/strong><em>is a series from Euronews Business where we sit down with industry leaders and experts to discuss some of the most important topics on today\u2019s agenda.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the video above to see the full discussion with Verena Ross.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-contributors c-article-contributors-supplementary u-margin-top-2 u-padding-top-2\">\n<p>Additional sources<strong> \u2022 Edited by Arno Aubert<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2901038-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2901038\" data-cid=\"9793940\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2901038-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/40\/480x270_cmsv2_2040c5e3-bfa4-501b-bf2b-fbd672d55176-9793940.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"St\u00e9phane Bancel, CEO of Moderna on The Big Question.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moderna CEO: \u2018I worry deeply about bioterrorism\u2019<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2892906-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2892906\" data-cid=\"9754597\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2892906-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/45\/97\/480x270_cmsv2_629a3ac5-fc56-5690-af22-db96a10757ee-9754597.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lyall Cresswell, CEO &amp; founder of the Transport Exchange Group on The Big Question\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The Big Question: What happens if Europe runs short of truck drivers?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2889697-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2889697\" data-cid=\"9739395\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2889697-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/93\/95\/480x270_cmsv2_6dc95346-4f9e-53e6-92cf-1fbb3b4d091f-9739395.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Estelle Fruchet, General Manager for France at Shionogi Europe on The Big Question.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance and its economic toll<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Capital Markets Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Foreign Investment<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European markets<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Investment<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Pensions<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  savings<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905806-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905806\" data-cid=\"9817479\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905806-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/74\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_518ed09a-668c-5c2f-a90b-a8a50783f62d-9817479.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. The logo for British American Tobacco appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Jul. 2017\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lucky Strike maker BAT to axe 5,500 jobs worldwide in \u20ac695m cost drive<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905748-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905748\" data-cid=\"9817179\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905748-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/71\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_2a8ab975-6373-5333-a028-79ce650c548c-9817179.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People participate in a march to protest the opening of AI data centers in Vancouver, British Columbia, 27 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The AI boom could trigger the next crash, central banks warn<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2904805-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904805-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_1015fdce-3a3a-5f19-b051-0eb7a1cb33a1-9812928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Paris city view (file photo)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2902192-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902192\" data-cid=\"9811292\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902192-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/94\/61\/320x180_cmsv2_97685693-5a62-5d65-b27e-71a7c38dd3de-9799461.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Cascais\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Why Portugal is attracting the world&#8217;s super-rich<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2904933-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904933\" data-cid=\"9813663\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904933-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/63\/320x180_cmsv2_390d96ac-9122-5e43-8988-c62a8ec649bb-9813663.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man walks past a monitor showing stock prices of companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 23 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The investments that soared and slumped in the first half of 2026<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904805-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904959-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904959\" data-cid=\"9813834\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European cities require nearly 19 years of income to buy a home?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904094-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904094\" data-cid=\"9809129\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries are the cheapest and most expensive?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904812-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904812\" data-cid=\"9813023\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ferrari&#8217;s marketing boss quits after backlash over first EV<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2900768-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2900768\" data-cid=\"9792642\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Dubai is training its private sector in agentic AI \u2013 here&#8217;s why<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">Partner content presented by <strong>Dubai Chambers<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2901038-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2901038\" data-cid=\"9793940\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2901038-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/40\/480x270_cmsv2_2040c5e3-bfa4-501b-bf2b-fbd672d55176-9793940.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"St\u00e9phane Bancel, CEO of Moderna on The Big Question.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moderna CEO: \u2018I worry deeply about bioterrorism\u2019<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2892906-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2892906\" data-cid=\"9754597\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2892906-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/45\/97\/480x270_cmsv2_629a3ac5-fc56-5690-af22-db96a10757ee-9754597.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lyall Cresswell, CEO &amp; founder of the Transport Exchange Group on The Big Question\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The Big Question: What happens if Europe runs short of truck drivers?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2889697-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2889697\" data-cid=\"9739395\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2889697-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/93\/95\/480x270_cmsv2_6dc95346-4f9e-53e6-92cf-1fbb3b4d091f-9739395.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Estelle Fruchet, General Manager for France at Shionogi Europe on The Big Question.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Big Question<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance and its economic toll<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905806-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905806\" data-cid=\"9817479\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905806-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/74\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_518ed09a-668c-5c2f-a90b-a8a50783f62d-9817479.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. The logo for British American Tobacco appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Jul. 2017\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lucky Strike maker BAT to axe 5,500 jobs worldwide in \u20ac695m cost drive<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905748-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905748\" data-cid=\"9817179\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905748-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/71\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_2a8ab975-6373-5333-a028-79ce650c548c-9817179.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People participate in a march to protest the opening of AI data centers in Vancouver, British Columbia, 27 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The AI boom could trigger the next crash, central banks warn<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904805-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904805-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/29\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_1015fdce-3a3a-5f19-b051-0eb7a1cb33a1-9812928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Paris city view (file photo)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2902192-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902192\" data-cid=\"9811292\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902192-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/94\/61\/320x180_cmsv2_97685693-5a62-5d65-b27e-71a7c38dd3de-9799461.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Cascais\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Why Portugal is attracting the world&#8217;s super-rich<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904933-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904933\" data-cid=\"9813663\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2904933-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/63\/320x180_cmsv2_390d96ac-9122-5e43-8988-c62a8ec649bb-9813663.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man walks past a monitor showing stock prices of companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 23 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The investments that soared and slumped in the first half of 2026<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904805-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904959-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904959\" data-cid=\"9813834\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European cities require nearly 19 years of income to buy a home?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904094-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904094\" data-cid=\"9809129\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries are the cheapest and most expensive?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904812-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904812\" data-cid=\"9813023\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ferrari&#8217;s marketing boss quits after backlash over first EV<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2900768-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2900768\" data-cid=\"9792642\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Dubai is training its private sector in agentic AI \u2013 here&#8217;s why<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">Partner content presented by <strong>Dubai Chambers<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Since its establishment in 2011, Verena Ross has held senior leadership roles at the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), serving first as Executive Director before becoming Chair in 2021.ESMA&#8217;s mission is to enhance investor protection, promote orderly financial markets and safeguard financial stability across Europe.As Ross prepares to step down as Chair in October 2026, Angela Barnes sat down with her for The Big Question to discuss Europe&#8217;s investment landscape, the challenges that remain, and the priorities awaiting her successor.Why do more Americans invest than Europeans?One of ESMA&#8217;s key priorities has been helping to implement the Capital Markets Union (CMU), the long-running initiative to deepen Europe&#8217;s financial markets, recently rebranded as the Savings and Investments Union (SIU).\u201cWe still have, as you say, more often 27 national markets than really a single European capital market,\u201d Verena explained.The SIU aims to further integrate the EU&#8217;s fragmented capital markets, reducing European companies&#8217; heavy reliance on bank lending while giving investors genuine cross-border opportunities.&#8221;Capital needs to flow as freely as people can within the European Union,&#8221; she added. Citizens, she argued, should feel equally free to make their money work for them wherever they choose to live and invest.\u201cSo there has been a lot of consideration over the last year. How can we make a real step change here? How can we make sure that we use the extensive savings that we have in Europe and convert it into productive investment that supports growth and works for companies and investors?&#8221;Whenever Europe&#8217;s capital markets are discussed, comparisons with the US are inevitable. America&#8217;s markets are deeper, more liquid and supported by a stronger culture of investing,&#8221; Ross added.So what is holding Europeans back? Why are we less engaged with our capital markets? Is fragmentation alone to blame?\u201cIn general, in Europe, people are probably slightly less financially literate, but that is not because they don&#8217;t have the intelligence or the wish to learn about it,\u201d Verena Ross told The Big Question.\u00a0\u201cIt&#8217;s more the fact that in America, because you don&#8217;t have state guaranteed pay-as-you-go pension schemes, anyone who works and who needs to think about his old age needs to directly be engaged in thinking about investing in capital markets.\u201dTo encourage more Europeans to adopt this mindset, Ross argued that people need access to clearer, more accessible information and better tools for comparing investment options, enabling them to &#8220;understand the risks, the costs and the opportunities that come with investing in capital markets.&#8221;Better pensions, stronger businesses?How Europeans save their money doesn&#8217;t just affect their own long-term financial security. It also has wider implications for how businesses raise finance and how the European economy grows.\u201cAt the moment in Europe, still a large proportion of the financing comes through bank credit. But what we need to develop is a more diversified funding source\u2026 And in a way, it&#8217;s a win-win situation when you can bring that together, these savings and the productive investments that they can sponsor,\u201d Ross said.Europe&#8217;s reliance on bank credit means businesses can be more exposed when lending conditions tighten, while a significant share of household savings remains in bank deposits rather than being channelled through capital markets.Verena hopes the Savings and Investments Union will help broaden the range of financing available to businesses, encourage a more integrated capital market and make Europe more attractive to international investors.\u201cWe live in a global world and particularly, capital markets are global by their nature. So we also need to be attractive to overseas investors, whether they are American, Asian or from wherever they come and make sure that Europe is a destination for that investment capital,\u201d she continued.Ultimately, she believes the challenge is to reduce the barriers created by fragmented national capital markets and build a more integrated market that benefits both European companies and investors.The future of investing in EuropeWhile Verena Ross is keen to improve public understanding of capital markets, she also warned about the risks of relying on poor-quality financial information from &#8220;finfluencers&#8221; and AI.\u201cAI tools, I think, have a real role to play, but they provide both opportunities and they add risks,\u201d she highlighted while acknowledging that AI is a major source of information for people today.\u00a0\u201cAt the same time, we need to be clear that AI tools can have certain biases and can actually give you wrong information. So it&#8217;s also very important that investors don&#8217;t just trust blindly what is coming out of whatever AI tool that they use,\u201d she said.As the ESMA Chair looks towards the end of her tenure, and has yet to announce her future plans, she hopes her successor will help realise a more integrated European capital market.\u201cI really hope in 10-15 years, we have a European capital market, that is deep and liquid, that provides the investment opportunities for investors to invest in European companies, and makes sure that the capital markets are there to support the European economy and its positioning and competitiveness in the world,\u201d she added.Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on the progress made in overcoming the longstanding barriers to a truly integrated European capital market.The Big Question is a series from Euronews Business where we sit down with industry leaders and experts to discuss some of the most important topics on today\u2019s agenda.Watch the video above to see the full discussion with Verena Ross.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/06\/29\/the-big-question-what-is-stopping-europeans-from-making-the-most-of-their-money&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/79\/39\/37\/1200x675_cmsv2_03af6316-2834-540b-be54-268e9c7fef2c-9793937.jpg&#8221;] Iran Iran says delegation heading to Qatar, denies talks scheduled with US 12 minutes with EU will &#8216;come to its senses&#8217; on Israel, former Netanyahu adviser says Business World Bank strengthens ties with Spain from Madrid No Comment Swiss yodellers rehearse in public fountains as Basel swelters Iran Iran says delegation heading [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2018599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2018599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018599\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2018599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2018599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2018599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}