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AFG’s conference: Asset management in transition(s) - online event

On December 7th, the Secretariat attended the online event "Asset management in transition(s); AFG’s European conference" organized annually in Brussels by the organization AFG, which is the voice of all actors in the asset management business in France and abroad.
The session aimed at discussing challenges and expectations for the future of asset management in the context of Europe’s evolving ESG (environmental, social and governance) agenda, COP26 and expected regulatory developments.
 
The French Minister for European Affairs, Mr Clément Beaune, opened the session by highlighting  three key pillars to be brought forward in the run-up to France’s upcoming Presidency of the EU Council: the first is climate, to be established as a concrete priority for Europe by driving ambitious, green and competitive industries; the second is digital, with the definition of an harmonized regulation on legal responsibility and standards for the actors in the field; the third is social nets, concerning the need of setting up protection for workers and jobs thanks to the adaptation of the financial sector at the EU level.

The speakers then focused on the strategy to hardwire sustainability throughout different financial regulations, where it can best serve Europe’s green, digital and inclusive transition. For example, the Renewed sustainable finance strategy and implementation of the action plan on financing sustainable growth, published in March 2018 by the European Commission (see: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/sustainable-finance-renewed-strategy_fr), is a key step forward in this direction.

Speakers of the session included: Mr Clément Beaune, French Minister of State for European Affairs; Ms Mirela Agache-Durand, Vice Chair of AFG; Ms Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director General for the Environment European Commission; Mr Eric Pinon, Chairman of AFG; Ms Margarita Pirovska, Director of Policy UN Principles for Responsible investment. 

You can watch the full replay of the conference here.