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EU's Von der Leyen reaffirms urgent need to simplify regulations in Europe

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 11, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: February 11, 2026

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EU's Von der Leyen reaffirms urgent need to simplify regulations in Europe
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BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The European Union must simplify its regulations on companies doing business in the region in order to make the bloc more competitive against the likes of the United

EU's Von der Leyen Calls for Streamlined Regulations to Boost Competitiveness

The Need for Regulatory Simplification in the EU

BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The European Union must simplify its regulations on companies doing business in the region in order to make the bloc more competitive against the likes of the United States and China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

Fragmentation of Financial Systems

"Let me take the U.S. example again. One financial system, one financial capital, and a handful of other financial centres. Here in Europe, we do not only have 27 different financial systems, each with its own supervisor," she said at a speech in the European Parliament. 

Proposed Roadmap for Single Market

"But also, more than 300 trading venues across our Union. That is fragmentation on steroids. We need one large, deep and liquid capital market. And this is the goal of our Savings and Investment Union," she added.

Goals of the Savings and Investment Union

Von der Leyen added she would propose EU leaders endorse at a March EU summit a joint single market roadmap to 2028, with a clear timetable on when steps to deepen the EU's single market are taken.     

(Reporting by Lili Bayer;Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Philip Blenkinsop)

Key Takeaways

  • Von der Leyen calls for simplified EU regulations.
  • Fragmentation in EU financial systems is a concern.
  • A single market roadmap is proposed for 2028.
  • The goal is a unified Savings and Investment Union.
  • Competitiveness against the US and China is a priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is regulatory simplification?
Regulatory simplification refers to the process of reducing the complexity of laws and regulations to make compliance easier for businesses and enhance competitiveness.
What is the European Commission?
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and upholding EU treaties.
What are capital markets?
Capital markets are financial markets where long-term debt or equity-backed securities are bought and sold, facilitating the raising of capital.
What is the Savings and Investment Union?
The Savings and Investment Union is an initiative aimed at creating a deeper and more integrated capital market within the EU to enhance investment opportunities.

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