The European Investment Bank Group organised the event "Ethical banking for more social impact in Europe" on 5 June 2025 in Brussels.

Co-organised with the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA) and the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), the event brought together key EU financial actors engaged in ethical and social banking. Discussions focused on the sector’s needs, the role of the EU and the EIB Group in supporting ethical finance, and strategies to enhance social impact in Europe through ethical financing.

Participants also heard about the our recent collaboration with Banca Etica and explored opportunities for new partnerships with FEBEA and GABV members.

This invitation-only event was organised by the EIB Advisory, as part of the Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) initiative under InvestEU.

Programme *

• 9:00 – 9:10 Welcome
  Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice-President, European Investment Bank

• 9:10 – 9:40 Opening remarks
  Ruth Paserman, Director, Funds: Programming and Implementation, DG EMPL, European Commission
  Gemma Feliciani, Director, Financial Institutions Department, European Investment Bank
  Daniel Sorrosal, Secretary General, European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA)
  Martin Rohner, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)

• 9:40 – 10:30 EIB Group support for ethical and social finance
  Catherine Bender, Head of Division, Financial Institutions West, European Investment Bank
  Cristina Dumitrescu, Head of Inclusive Finance, European Investment Fund
  Eduardo Sierra Martin, Financial Instruments Advisor, Financial Institutions Department, European Investment Bank
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• 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break

• 11:00 – 12:00 Panel: Evolution of EU social and ethical finance
  Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, Head of Unit, Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship, DG EMPL, European Commission
  Andrea Baranes, Advisor, Banca Etica Foundation
  Raffaella De Felice, Member of the Board, Banca Etica, Italy
  Guido Vezzani, Loan Officer, Financial Institutions West Division, European Investment Bank
  Anna Zurek, Financial Instruments Advisor, Advisory Financial Institutions Division, European Investment Bank
  Simone Petrillo, Transaction & Relationship Officer, European Investment Fund
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• 12:00 – 13:00 Panel: Opportunities and challenges in ethical banking
  Esther Luna, Caixa Colonya Pollença, Spain
  Juliane Müller, GLS Bank, Germany
  Oscar Muguerza Telleria, Laboral Kutxa, Spain
  Francois Dauriat, Policy Officer, DG EMPL, European Commission
  Guido Vezzani, Loan Officer, Financial Institutions West Division, European Investment Bank
  Cristina Dumitrescu, Head of Inclusive Finance, European Investment Fund
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• 13:00 – 13:05 Closing remarks
  Bruno Robino, Deputy Head Advisory Financial Institutions Division, European Investment Bank

• 13:05 – 14:30 Networking lunch

• 14:30 – 16:30 One-to-one meetings with EIB Group experts

* The programme is subject to changes. Please check the event page regularly for updates.