Allied For Startups at the Capital Markets for a More Competitive Europe event in Stockholm

On 3 April 2025, Allied for Startups attended the Capital Markets for a More Competitive Europe event in Stockholm, kindly invited by Svenskt Näringsliv and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The aim of the conference was to discuss the importance of strengthening Europe’s capital markets through the Savings and Investment Union (SIU), featuring contributions from Prime Minister Kristersson, European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque, and the Finance Ministers of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania – Arvils Aseradens, Jurgen Ligi, and Rimantas Sadzius, among others. These leaders presented a vision for the SIU that aligns with AFS’s contributions to the open consultation.

Key points from the Communication on the SIU:

• Emphasis on the need for financing startups and innovation.
• Acknowledging of the urgency of unlocking €10 trillion in European savings through new financial products, such as Sweden’s ISK.
• Recommendations on strategies to engage institutional investors like pension funds and strengthen Europe’s banking sector.
• Addressing the fragmentation that hinders cross-border investment, limiting EU investors’ access to opportunities.
• Highlighting the weak European exit climate, which is leading many successful startups to relocate.

AFS urges the European Commission to take bold action in implementing these solutions. Together with our members, we are fully committed to advancing this crucial agenda to enhance Europe’s capital markets and foster innovation.

A special thank you to Svenskt Näringsliv and all those who helped organise and participated in this important discussion. Together, we can build a more competitive and innovative Europe.