Capital markets union

Launched in 2015, the capital markets union (CMU) is a series of measures to create a single market for capital across all the 27 EU Member States. It aims to get investment and savings flowing across the Member States for the benefit of citizens, businesses and investors.

Although some progress has been made since 2015, EU capital markets remain fragmented. Given that recovery from the unprecedented economic crisis due to COVID-19 is one of the EU’s major priorities, developing the EU’s capital markets, and ensuring access to market financing, have a vital role to play.

In September 2020, the European Commission published a new 16-point action plan to boost CMU. The action plan has 3 main aims:

• to support a green, digital, inclusive and resilient economic recovery by making financing more accessible for European companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• to make the EU an even safer place for individuals to save and invest in the longterm;
• to integrate national capital markets into a genuine EU-wide single market for capital.

SEE ALSO

• European Commission
• Free movement of capital
• Member States
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• European Green Deal (summary)
• Capital markets union — A plan to unlock funding for Europe’s growth (European Commission)
• What is the capital markets union? (European Commission)
• Shaping Europe’s digital future (European Commission).