EU plans major capital markets union push to fund defence and green transitions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a renewed drive to establish a unified capital market across the EU, aiming to unlock private investment for defence, digitalisation, and climate initiatives, with significant progress expected before summer.

The European Union will launch a renewed push to advance its long-delayed Capital Markets Union, aiming to mobilize private investment for defence, digital, and green priorities, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Speaking alongside newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a joint press conference, von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of progress: “We need a deep and liquid functioning capital market for the entire European Union. We agreed that now is the time to push this agenda forward, and we expect to see real momentum before summer.”

Efforts to create a Capital Markets Union have stalled for over a decade, hindered by divergent national interests, regulatory disparities, and varied financial cultures across EU member states. However, the geopolitical landscape and the need for major long-term investments have reignited calls for reform.

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