The One About the European Investment Bank featuring Nadia Calviño

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank — the EU's principal investment arm and one of the world's largest multilateral lenders. With a career spanning the European Commission, the Spanish government, and the IMF's top financial committee, she brings a rare inside-out view of how EU finance actually works. The conversation covers what the Savings and Investments Union means for ordinary savers, how the EIB crowds in private capital and whether retail investors can ever really be part of that story, why European companies struggle to scale at home, and what the bank's digital bond issuances tell us about where capital market infrastructure is heading. The episode also touches on the EIB's landmark role in sustainable finance and its recent shift into defence investment.

The One about Supplementary Pensions featuring Tilman Lueder

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Tilman Lueder, the Head of Unit for Pensions and Insurance at the EU Commission about a proposed package to make supplementary pensions better and more accessible across the EU — revamping the rules for occupational pension funds, relaunching the Pan-European Personal Pension Product, and recommending that member states get serious about auto-enrolment and pension dashboards.

The One About an Update on Sanctions featuring EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan about how sanctions are working after 4 years of Russia's full scale illegal and barbarous unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. During the past 4 years, Russia has been unable to achieve its illegal war objectives, but has perpetrated countless barbarities, war crimes, and murders against Ukraine and her people. Ukraine is showing remarkable resilience and courage against a brutal invader. Sanctions are one of the tools the EU has deployed to help in degrading Russia's war machine.

The One about the Savings and Investments Union featuring former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with President Enrico Letta — former Prime Minister of Italy and President of the Jacques Delors Institute — about the Savings and Investments Union and what it means for European citizens and businesses. They cover fragmented financial markets, ten trillion euros in household savings doing too little, the case for stronger EU-level supervision, and whether today's geopolitical turbulence is finally creating the political will to act. President Letta's landmark report Much More Than a Market laid much of the intellectual groundwork for the EU's current approach — so there's no better person to ask whether Europe is finally on the right track.

The One About Financial Literacy Featuring OECD Director Carmine Di Noia

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with OECD Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs Carmine Di Noia. They talk about financial literacy in the EU and beyond, competence frameworks, financial literacy challenges, the OECD’s plans, as well as what Professor di Noia thinks about the EU Commission’s financial literacy strategy.

The One About Savings and Investment Accounts with Swedish Minister for Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman

Chantal Hughes chats with Niklas Wykman, Swedish Minister for Financial Markets, about the EU Commission's proposal on Savings and investment accounts (SIAs). They are designed to provide you with an easy and user-friendly way to grow your wealth and achieve your personal financial goals. SIAs already exist in some EU countries. The Commission is now recommending that all EU countries introduce them. Factsheet on SIAs: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_25_2238 EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en EU Finance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/eu-economy-finance/ EU Finance YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EUFinance

The One About the Digital Euro with ECB Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone

In a joint episode, EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas and the European Central Bank's Podcast host Stefania Secola chat with ECB executive board member Piero Cippolone about the digital Euro. What IS it? Don't we already have it? How is it going to work? They'll also address disinformation about the digital euro: Is this a tool for Big Brother? Is Government going to control how we spend, and other disinformation topics. Last, but not least, WHEN is it going to finally happen? European Stability Mechanism Home: https://www.esm.europa.eu/ EU Commission site on ESM: https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-financial-assistance/euro-area-countries/european-stability-mechanism-esm_en EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en

The One about the European Stability Mechanism with Nicola Giammarioli

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas heads over to Luxembourg to chat with the European Stability Mechanism’s Secretary General Nicola Giammarioli, responsible for Corporate Governance and Internal Policies, Policy Strategy and Institutional Relations and Communications. If you’ve ever wondered what the ESM is all about, this episode is for you! European Stability Mechanism Home: https://www.esm.europa.eu/ EU Commission site on ESM: https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-financial-assistance/euro-area-countries/european-stability-mechanism-esm_en EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en

The One About the World Bank and the EU

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Anshula Kant about the World Bank. Anshula Kant is Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she is responsible for oversight of financial management, reporting, and risk management of the World Bank Group and the mobilization of IDA and other financial resources. The EU collaborates with the World Bank to align global development goals with EU policies, particularly in areas like climate action, poverty reduction, and sustainable growth. The World Bank in the EU: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/eu Anshula Kant at the World Bank: https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/who-we-are/leadership/anshula-kant EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en

The One About the Sanctions Helpdesk

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with the EU Sanctions Helpdesk's Frederik van Essen, Legal and Compliance Key Expert, and Dimitrios Chaidas, Key Expert on Communications, who will discuss the Helpdesk and the added value it brings to European SMEs. This is a special episode as it is the new episode of our “EU Finance” Podcast Series but also the first episode of the new “Compliance Corner” Podcast Series of the EU Sanctions Helpdesk. EU Sanctions Helpdesk: https://eu-sanctions-compliance-helpdesk.europa.eu/index_en EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en EU Finance Podcast episodes on Sanctions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB0UI1syk4m-WLmiX2qsHrWiin9hmA8SN EU Sanctions: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-and-world/sanctions-restrictive-measures_en

The One About the Savings and Investments Union featuring Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque

EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque, responsible for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union. The Savings and Investments Union (SIU) is at the forefront of Europe's financial strategy, aiming to create a more robust and inclusive economic environment. Commissioner Albuquerque shares how this initiative is designed to empower EU citizens and businesses to help the EU economy grow, increase our resilience, and build a better future, even as we see present market turmoil coming from across the pond. Savings and Investments Union: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/regulation-and-supervision/savings-and-investments-union_en WIKIFin financial literacy lab: https://www.wikifin.be/en/wikifin-lab OECD Financial Literacy page: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/financial-consumer-protection-and-education.html EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en EU Finance YouTube: https://youtube.com/@eufinance

The One About EU Venture Capitalists

EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Eva de Mol, the founder of the first and largest investment fund in technology startups in the Netherlands founded by women: CapitalT. They chat about the EU being more risk averse than the USA, about freeing up European capital to do more, and about the future of EU capital markets. Eva earned her PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the University of California at Berkeley, where she researched the factors that lead to startup success. She followed more than 1000 entrepreneurial teams over five years. Eva speaks a lot about the European tech sector and how innovation affects our lives. Eva is committed to more diversity in technology and entrepreneurship.

The One About Climate Benchmarks

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Antoine Picot, an expert on securities markets and benchmarks about climate benchmarks, and how they work, as well as what Paris Aligned and Climate Transition Benchmarks are useful for.

The One About EU Finance's International Affairs

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Maria Raffaella Assetta, the head of international affairs in DG FISMA. Raffaella and her team are responsible for the EU working with our international partners (USA, UK, G20, etc.) to develop consistent policies on the regulation of financial markets and capital movements.

The One About Jobs at Anti Money Laundering Authority.

The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) is here! Brand-spanking new! EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Olivier Salles, the executive director of AMLA and Vincent Schön from AMLA’s communications team about what’s new and how to get a job at AMLA.

The One about European Green Bonds going live!

The European Green Bond Standard is here! It’s grown and flowered into the European Green Bond Standard Regulation which applies from 21 December of 2024. That’s why EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas revisits this subject with Christine Mai, an EU expert on sustainable finance and the European Green Bond Standard Regulation.

The One About What EU Finance Commissioner McGuinness Accomplished

EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with outgoing EU Commissioner for Financial services, financial stability, and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness about what she’s gotten done over the last 4 years. It’s the first ever EU Finance VODcast, so head over to our youtube channel @EUFinance and take a look!

The One About Sanctions as a Foreign Policy Tool

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Mr. Brice De Schietere, the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) Head of sanctions division. The External Action Service is like the EU’s foreign ministry. As friends of the podcast already know, it’s DG FISMA (The Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union) that prepares joint proposals for Regulations on sanctions for adoption by the Council of the European Union, and represents the European Commission in sanctions-related discussions with Member States. The EEAS is our partner in this, especially when it comes to dealing with countries OUTSIDE the EU.

The One About the EIOPA Chairperson

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Chairperson of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) - Petra Hielkema. She was appointed as chair back in September 2021, so she’s a bit more than halfway through this term. EIOPA is at the heart of insurance and occupational pensions supervision in the EU.

The One About the Chair of the European Banking Authority

EU Finance podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with the Chairperson of the European Banking Authority (EBA) - Jose Manuel Campa. He was first appointed to the Chair of the EBA in March 2019 and was recently RE-appointed for a second term. He represents the Authority and by chairing the meetings of the Board of Supervisors and of the Management Board steers the strategic direction of the Authority. EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en European Banking Authority: https://www.eba.europa.eu/homepage

The One About the Banking Package (Basel III)

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas and Almoro Rubin de Cervin, head of the EU’s Banking regulation and supervision unit, examine where we are with banking reform, and if is it really the final step in this reform of banking rules.

The One About the Anti Money Laundering Authority (AMLA)

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with Olena Loboiko, an expert policy officer in the EU Commission’s Anti Money Laundering unit. They discuss the creation of a new EU authority to fight money laundering - AMLA. It is part of the Commission’s commitment to protect EU citizens and the EU's financial system from money laundering and terrorist financing. Anti-Money Laundering: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-crime/eu-context-anti-money-laundering-and-countering-financing-terrorism_en AMLA: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-crime/amla_en EU Finance Podcast on Anti Money Laundering: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-finance-podcast-future-finance/eu-finance-podcast-one-about-anti-money-laundering_en EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en

The One About Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with Elodie Feller of the Platform on Sustainable Finance and EU Commission expert Sophie Rathmes about an important facet of sustainable finance – transition finance. The aim behind transition finance is to support companies that are at different starting points to become more sustainable in the future and to create the right conditions so capital flows can finance a more sustainable economy. EU Finance Newshub: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/finance-news-hub_en Transition Finance: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/sustainable-finance-package-2023_en#transition Platform on Sustainable Finance: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/sustainable-finance/overview-sustainable-finance/platform-sustainable-finance_en https://finance.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2024-01/240129-sf-platform-report-market-practices-compendium-report_en.pdf EU Finance Podcast episode on sustainability reporting: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-finance-podcast-future-finance/eu-finance-podcast-one-about-sustainability-reporting_en

The One About the Single Resolution Board (SRB)

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas and Dominique Laboureix - the chair of the Single Resolution Board (the SRB) talk about the SRB, what it does, and WHY it does. This is a companion episode to S02E02 on the subject of banking union, bank resolution and related matters. EU Finance Newsletter: https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/financial-stability-financial-services-and-capital-markets-union/finance-newsletter_en Single Resolution Mechanism and the SRB: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/banking/banking-union/single-resolution-mechanism_en#what-the-eu-is-doing-and-why

The One About the EU’s banking crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI)

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas and Andrea Beltramello, the Head of the Commission’s resolution and deposit insurance unit, talk about reforming the EU’s banking crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) framework within the EU’s Banking Union. This is the first of a two part series. Next time, we’ll be talking with Dominique Laboureix - the chair of the Single Resolution Board (the SRB) - for a deeper dive into the SRB, what it does, and WHY it does. EU Finance Newsletter: https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/financial-stability-financial-services-and-capital-markets-union/finance-newsletter_en Reform of bank crisis management and deposit insurance framework: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/reform-bank-crisis-management-and-deposit-insurance-framework_en

The One About How Sanctions Are Indeed Working

Special Edition - this episode being released outside the usual combination of podcast and monthly EU Finance Newsletter. It’s also special, because there’s been a massive uptick in Russian disinformation regarding sanctions, and the truth is needed to combat that as soon as possible. The latest false Russian narrative is that sanctions are not working. Article after article gets pushed to world media. Russian proxies and populist politicians parrot the same line. Why? Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with EU Sanctions Envoy David O’Sullivan to shed some light on the subject. Spoiler Alert! It’s because sanctions ARE indeed working. EU Finance Newsletter: https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/financial-stability-financial-services-and-capital-markets-union/finance-newsletter_en EUvsDisinfo: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/

The One About Sustainability Reporting

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with Thomas Dodd, the EU Commission’s expert on corporate reporting about how someone who wants to invest sustainably can know if the investment is really green? Well, surprise, surprise!, the EU has once again stepped up to help us out. At the beginning of this year, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force. This new directive modernises and strengthens the rules concerning the social and environmental information that companies have to report. A broader set of large companies, as well as listed SMEs, will now be required to report on sustainability.

The One About the Data Hub (Digital Finance Platform)

In September 2020, the European Commission adopted the digital finance strategy to foster a more competitive and innovative European financial sector. The digital finance platform is part of this effort to support innovation in finance and build a true single market for digital financial services. EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with the EU Commission’s foremost expert on the digital finance platform, Alice Guedel of DG FISMA, to help him understand the latest innovation on the platform – the Data Hub.

The One About the EU Sanctions Envoy

Back in December of 2022, the EU decided to create a new role of International Special Envoy for the Implementation of EU Sanctions to ensure continuous, high-level discussions with third countries to avoid the evasion or even the circumvention of the unprecedented sanctions that have been imposed on Russia since the start of its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine and the West. EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with David O'Sullivan, a former Secretary-General of the Commission and senior EU diplomat, the EU Sanctions Envoy.

The One About the EU as a Borrower

Governments borrow. The EU borrows. It borrows to get stuff done. EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas talks with Niall Bohan, the EU Commission’s Director for Asset, debt and financial Risk management in the Budget department. They walk through how the EU issues debt, how our bonds, EU bonds, work, why they work and why they’re a big, good deal. And they have some laughs along the way.

The One About the European Green Bond Standard

EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas chats with Axel Fougner – the EU Commission’s foremost authority on the European Green Bond Standard. Axel gives Aidas an explanation about EUGBS, how it’s going to work, why it’s going to work, and who is going to make it work. If you’re green behind the ears about bonds that might help save the planet, this episode is for you. If you’re ready to go green in your finances, give this one a listen.

The One About Clearing

Your intrepid EU Finance Podcast host Aidas Palubinskas has a quick-fire chat with Jenny Robertson, the head of the EU's Financial Markets Infrastructure unit. They're talking about something that deals with mind-boggling amounts of money. Tens of trillions of Euro. Yes, TENS of TRILLIONS of Euro. They're going to clear the air. They're going to clear the way to a better understanding of financial markets infrastructure. They're going to clear up any misunderstanding about why the EU is doing it. They're going to talk about clearing.

The One About Capital Markets Union

Brussels woke up to a clean blanket of snow this morning. It’s like there’s a beautiful single space, ready and waiting for new opportunities. Sounds like a metaphor for the EU, no? When your host Aidas Palubinskas came to work for DG FISMA, what he likes to call the EU’s Ministry of Finance - work on the Capital Markets Union – the CMU - was just getting started. The CMU is a big project, and can sound complicated sometimes. And often, it is. At its core, the Capital Markets Union is a plan to create a single market for capital in the EU. The aim is to get money – investments and savings, including those of us – ordinary savers and consumers – flowing across and around the EU so that it can benefit consumers, investors, and companies, regardless of where they are located. Putting money to work to keep the machinery of our economy moving and growing. In other words, jobs and growth, kids, jobs and growth! Aidas talks to Tanya Panova, the head of the EU Commission’s CMU department in an energetic, and fun conversation, where Aidas probably gets in a little over his head.

The One About Instant Payments

Instant coffee, instant oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, instant gratification. We want it all, and we want it now. So, we’re going to talk about instant payments. On 26 October 2022, the European Commission put forward a legislative proposal on establishing instant payments. Wait, what? Don’t we already have that? Your host, Aidas Palubinskas, who knows just enough to get himself into trouble, talks with Eric Ducoulombier, the European Commission’s head for retail finance. They talk about the EU nudging the retail payments industry on instant payments and what benefits accrue to EU citizens and business, as well as how it’s going to help with Russia sanctions.

The One about Energy

In response to the extremely volatile prices caused by Russia’s weaponisation of energy, on 18 October 2022, the EU Commission proposed a new emergency regulation to address high gas prices in the EU and ensure security of supply this winter. Aidas Palubinskas chats with the EU Commission’s Director General for Finance Sean Berrigan about the financial markets aspects

The One about Anti-Money-Laundering

Back in 2021, the European Commission presented an ambitious package of legislative proposals to strengthen the EU rules on anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT). This included the proposal for the creation of a new EU authority to fight money laundering. Aidas Palubinskas talks with DG FISMA’s Deputy Director General Alexandra Jour Schroeder.

The One about sustainable investment

Letizia Lupini talks to Alain Deckers – head of the asset management unit – about what the EU is doing to promote sustainable finance and how investors can make sure they invest green.

The One about Digital Finance

Aidas Palubinskas talks to Jan Ceyssens about all things digital – including cryptocurrencies, cyber risks, the digital euro, privacy, and consent.

The One about sanctions

How do sanctions work? Do they work? How citizens and business can help them work?

Introduction to podcast

Short episodes are released at the same time as the monthly EU Commission Finance Newsletter on topics related to banks, capital markets, insurance, digital or sustainable finance, anti-money laundering, sanctions, etc. The host of the podcast is not an expert, so tries to get the topics explained as simply as possible. The views expressed are those of the participants and not necessarily those of the EU Commission.