LECE Conference. The banking industry of the EU: a guide on sustainable finance

On June 28, the LECE Sustainable Finance Conference: “The banking industry of the EU: a guide on sustainable finance – ESG” took place at CaixaForum in Madrid. The event was organized by the International Committee of the LECE and the Spanish Committee of the LECE, in collaboration with CaixaBank, Gabeira & Asociados, and Fundación Gabeiras.

Throughout the event, the criteria proposed by regulatory bodies to promote the role of banking as a driver of a sustainable European economy were discussed. Topics included the CSRD Directive, the SFRD Regulation, green funds, impact funds, taxonomies and rating agencies, as well as discussions on the priorities and criteria governing the transformation process towards inclusive sustainable finance; the convergence with the real economy; the assessment of the Directive on Due Diligence in sustainability, and the absence of rating agencies, level playing field (EU, USA, China).

Agenda

9:00 AM Welcome remarks by Joan Rosàs, Director of International Institutional Relations at CaixaBank and Vice President of LECE Spain.

9:05 AM Presentation and opening of the session by Francesc Homs, President of ELEC-LECE Spain.

9:15 AM Speech and opening remarks by Carlos Cuerpo, Secretary General of the Treasury – Government of Spain.

9:30 AM Intervention by Martin Spolc, Director of the Sustainable Finance Unit of the European Commission, DG FISMA.

9:45 AM First roundtable: How public agendas support a sustainable financing framework for EU financial institutions.
Xavier Fortuny, Director of Sustainability Risks at CaixaBank.
Joseph Noss, Chair of ISO’s Sustainable Finance Committee.
Belén Flor Villa, Head of Sustainable Finance Iberia- ING Group.
Joaquín Garralda, President of SpainSif.
Mónica Malo, Director of Communication-External Relations and Sustainability at CECA.
Moderated by Patricia Gabeiras, founding partner of Gabeiras & Asociados.

11:15 AM Break and coffee.

11:30 AM Intervention by Mercedes Olano, General Director of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Spain.

11:45 AM Second roundtable: Towards fostering a virtuous circle of sustainable finance in the EU. Will Europe drive the establishment of the global agenda?
Olaf Sleijpen, Member of the Executive Board of DNB and President of the Wise Persons Group (WPG) of ELEC.
Dominique Carriou, Head of Regulatory Affairs, European Savings and Retail Banks Group (ESBG).
Elena Flor, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Intesa Sanpaolo Group.
Christian Castro, Director of Public Affairs at CaixaBank.
Lara de Mesa, Global Head of Responsible Banking, Banco Santander.
Moderated by Javier Arias, President of LECE International.

1:15 PM Closing remarks:
Javier Arias, President of LECE International.
Joan Rosàs, Director of International Institutional Relations at CaixaBank and Vice President of LECE Spain.