12/11/24 (Agence Europe) – In a statement published on Friday 8 November, the European Federation of Financial Services Users and Investors, Better Finance, called on the European Commissioner-designate for Financial Services, Maria Albuquerque, to strengthen protections for retail investors in the EU. While the organisation welcomes the commitments expressed by Ms Albuquerque to the integration of capital markets in the EU at her European Parliament hearing (see EUROPE 13519/1), Better Finance insists on the “need” for protections for retail investors as part of efforts to simplify and harmonise market regulations. In particular, the organisation criticised the former Portuguese minister’s position on inducements for financial advice (see EUROPE 13371/31), as Ms Albuquerque considered it unproductive to continue demanding a reform which, in her view, could not be accepted. (BD)