Open letter
Civil society is calling for crucial improvements to the Retail Investment Strategy (RIS) to ensure that EU investors receive fair treatment, better protection and greater trust in financial markets.
The Retail Investment Strategy (RIS), launched in May 2023, was introduced to address a key challenge: European consumers tend to keep their financial savings in low-yield bank accounts or other capital-guaranteed products rather than investing. This not only undermines the creation of a strong Capital Markets Union, but leaves consumers exposed to inflation, reducing their long-term financial security. It also exacerbates the pensions gap – what consumers need to retire comfortably versus what they actually have.
The RIS aims to enable consumers by ensuring fair treatment, strong protections and greater confidence in retail investing, empowering them to make safe and informed investment decisions that align with their needs.
As the RIS enters the trilogue stage of the legislative process – interinstitutional negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union – Finance Watch, The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and BETTER FINANCE have outlined their recommendations to policymakers.
This joint position underscores the steps that EU policymakers can still take to ensure that the Retail Investment Strategy delivers better investor protection, greater transparency, and stronger consumer trust in financial markets.
