Promisingly, green bonds are roughly twice as likely as other European bonds to be held cross-border[8], and investments in environmental, social and governance funds appear to be more stable than those in conventional funds. [9] This incipient evidence suggests that, with the right regulatory framework in place, scaling up green finance will be beneficial in supporting both the low-carbon transition and financial integration in the euro area. Third, the capital markets union and the banking union are intrinsically linked. More integrated capital markets support cross-border banking activities, while more cross-border holdings would allow banks to diversify, making them more resilient. From issuance to underwriting, banks provide essential services for capital markets. Therefore, a more resilient and integrated banking system also supports the smooth functioning and further integration of capital markets. Key legislative initiatives to advance capital markets integration To move forward on the legislative front, we need to finalise the implementation of the Commission’s capital markets union action plan – without compromising on its ambition. This includes implementing proposals such as the consolidated tape, the targeted harmonisation of insolvency rules and the upcoming initiative on the withholding tax framework. We welcome the recent statement made by the co-legislators in April, in which they committed to finalising CMU legislative initiatives during the current institutional cycle, and the recent agreement on the European Single Access Point. The ESAP will help to mobilise and allocate capital by making it easier for investors to identify suitable firms and projects to invest in.
The public sector cannot shoulder all the investment required for the green and digital transitions on its own. [5] Capital markets have a key role to play in allocating the private investment required and in complementing the financing provided by banks. Equity financing – especially venture and growth capital – plays a central role in funding innovative firms. Given equity investors’ greater risk appetite, a larger share of equity financing may be needed to drive green innovation. ECB research suggests that an economy’s carbon footprint shrinks faster when a higher proportion of its funding comes from equity rather than debt financing. [6] The EU still lags behind its global peers when it comes to developing venture capital markets. Although it has grown in recent years, EU venture capital relative to GDP is still only a fifth of that of the United States. Public investment at the European level can play an important role in crowding in private investment, while coordinated public-private investment can play a crucial role in kick-starting innovation. Furthermore, the EU and its Member States should strengthen their support for initiatives aimed at providing financing to small and medium-sized enterprises or funding EU-based start-ups and scale-ups. On the plus side, we are already seeing substantial growth in sustainable finance. Although sustainable finance products still only account for a small share of euro area capital markets[7], assets under management of environmental, social and governance funds have tripled since 2015 while the volume of outstanding green bonds has risen tenfold.