Meeting alongside Sibos 2025 focuses on Anti-Financial Crime, Cybersecurity, and the Future of EU Finance.
The EU Financial Center Roundtable convened in Frankfurt last week for a high-level strategic meeting held alongside Sibos 2025. The gathering brought together representatives from member financial centers to align on joint priorities and address the most pressing challenges facing the European financial landscape, including financial crime, cybersecurity, and global competitiveness.
The day’s agenda commenced at the Frankfurt Messe, tying into the global dialogue at Sibos. The critical topic of Anti-Money Laundering and financial integrity was a key focus during a World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) panel, which featured prominent speakers from the European financial community, including Bernice Buttigieg, Hubertus Väth, and Pawel Widawski, in a session moderated by Dr. Jochen Biedermann.
Following the session, members proceeded to the headquarters of Frankfurt Main Finance for a dedicated working meeting. The core of the discussion centered on formulating a coordinated strategy to address shared challenges. Key priorities identified and debated included:
- Anti-Financial Crime & Regulatory Alignment: Strengthening cross-border cooperation and aligning on best practices.
- Cybersecurity Cooperation: Building a common front to enhance the resilience of the EU’s financial infrastructure.
- EU Competitiveness: Bolstering the attractiveness and efficiency of European financial centers on a global stage.
- The Savings and Investment Union: Advancing initiatives to unlock capital for growth and innovation.
- Open Finance & the EU Digital Finance Architecture (EU FiDA): Shaping the future of digital finance in a cohesive and secure manner.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the focus on the Roundtable’s institutional continuity, with members electing the new Speaker for the 2026 term, ensuring strong leadership for the challenges ahead. A productive working lunch provided further opportunities for bilateral exchanges and updates on key national initiatives.
The meeting concluded with a clear and unified commitment from all members to deepen joint action. Pawel Widawski, Speaker of the EU Financial Center Roundtable, commented on the meeting’s success: “Today’s discussions in Frankfurt underscore our shared resolve to build a more competitive, resilient, and integrated European financial market. By aligning our strategies on critical issues like financial crime and digital finance, we are not just reacting to change—we are actively shaping a stronger future for finance across the EU.”
