The world of financial services is digitalising rapidly. From innovative new payment methods to the digital euro, change is happening fast and offers plenty of potential benefits to consumers.

But this also comes with its own perils. From data privacy to the risk of fraud – the digitalisation of finance must not come at consumers’ expense. BEUC’s annual conference will address this very topic.

Featuring European Commissioner for Finance Mairead McGuinness, consumer organisations and industry, this event – moderated by journalist Jack Parrock – will be an unmissable debate about how to ensure consumers are on board with the digitalisation of finance.

Programme:

09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome words: Arnold Koopmans, BEUC President

09:40 – 10:45 | What should a digital euro for consumers look like?
The consumer reality-check: Digital exclusion in payments (presentation by Vinay Pranjivan, Senior Advisor, DECO)

Panellists

• Evelien Witlox, Digital Euro Programme Manager, European Central Bank (ECB)

• Anni Mykkänen, Senior Adviser on Payments, European Banking Federation

• Christel Delberghe, Director General, Eurocommerce

10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 | From Open Banking to Open Finance: What’s in it for consumers?
The consumer reality-check: Opportunities of Open Finance for consumers (presentation by Patricia Suárez, President, ASUFIN)

Panellists

• Mattias Levin, Deputy Head of Unit, DG FISMA

• Martin Einemo, CEO, Insurely

• Andres Lehtmets, Senior InsurTech Expert, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)

• Sebastião Barros Vale, Legal Officer, EDPS - European Data Protection Supervisor

12:00 – 12:30 | Commissioner Mairead McGuinness in conversation with consumer organisations

12:30 – 13:45 | Lunch

13:45 – 14:45 | Buy Now Pain Later? The consumer payment journey
The consumer reality-check: The psychology of fraud (presentation by Tony Herbert, Senior Policy Advisor, Which?)

Panellists

• Larisa Tugui, Senior Policy Expert in Conduct, Payments and Consumers Unit, European Banking Authority (EBA) 

• Eric Ducoulombier, Head of Unit, European Commission

• Miryam Vivar Gómez, Lawyer, OCU 

• Sanne van der Neut, Head of SEPA payments & Fraud, Rabobank

14:45 – 15:00 | Break

15:00 - 16:00 | From inducements to AI: the future of financial advice in the EU
The consumer reality-check: Getting independent consumer advice (presentation by Olof King, Advocacy Director, Consumentenbond)

Panellists

• Alexandra Jour-Schröder, Deputy Director General, DG FISMA

• Natasha Cazenave, Executive Director, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

• Sylvain Coriat, Member of the Executive Committee, Allianz France

• Robyn Laidlaw, Head of Distribution Europe, Vanguard Asset Management

16:00 - 16:10 Closing remarks by Monique Goyens, Director General, BEUC