Banking regulation Working for stricter rules and fairer practices to ensure financial markets serve people and planet, not the other way around

EU leaders warned push for deregulation will hurt Europe

5 February 2013

Environment, consumer and labour groups have written to European Union Heads of State and Government warning them of the dangers to the environment, health, and consumers of  proposals to reduce regulatory burden.

The letter was sent by the Green 10, of which Friends of the Earth Europe is a member, together with the European Trade Union Confederation and the European Consumers’ Organisation,

29 June 2012

€1 trillion opportunity for investment and jobs missed

The EU Summit, initially planned to discuss the purpose and effectiveness of the future €1 trillion EU Budget 2014-2020, was instead used to focus on a disputed attempt at a fiscal union and more quick fix bank bailouts – which to date have cost the tax payer over €4.5 trillion [1]. As governments put more money in irresponsible banks, they reduce their capacity to invest in a greener EU budget and economy.

27 June 2012

Green stimulus measures needed to exit crisis

Ahead of this week's EU Summit, the Green 10 network of leading environmental organizations encourages EU heads of government to break the link between the banking and the sovereign debt crises. Governments must regain the ability to implement policies that will transform the EU economy to make it more resource efficient and resilient to worsening environmental conditions. The green groups also welcome that the debate is moving beyond austerity and consider that an EU stimulus agenda, if devised correctly, would help solve the interlinked environmental and economic crises.

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Banks play a fundamental role in allocating financial resources – by providing credit and re-investing deposits. Too often, however, banks do not adequately assess the social or environmental risks of their financial products or the businesses they finance. De-regulation over the last few decades has played a large part in the instability and destructive nature of today's financial system.

Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for stricter rules and fairer practices, to transform a broken banking system into truly sustainable finance. 

Reports & publications

1 Mar 2011

In 2011 European decision makers can make banks sustainable

1 Mar 2011

Seven steps to make banks sustainable in 2011

More reports & publications

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