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The EU economy depends heavily on banks, which provide around 75% of SME financing. As new regulations such as CRR3 reshape capital requirements, strategic adaptation is essential to sustain credit flows to SMEs.

At the same time, the Savings and Investment Union (SIU) seeks to mobilise up to €10 trillion in household savings to close Europe’s €750–800 billion annual investment gap. Yet limited SME listings and fragmented regulation continue to restrict capital flows. Tools such as securitisation, expanded rating coverage, and blended finance can help channel savings more effectively into the real economy.

An expert working group will examine how regulation, savings, and strategy can be aligned to strengthen SME financing. Its objective is to build a network of senior experts and practitioners committed to improving SMEs’ access to long-term finance, with insights designed to be practical and replicable across regions.

The initiative is jointly promoted by the SME Finance Forum and Inbonis Rating.

The working group will deliberate on:

• Encouraging originate-to-distribute cooperation between banks, investors (public and private) and asset managers.
• Leveraging existing regulation (mainly CRR3) for better capital adequacy distinguishing between Investment Grade and sub-investment grade SMEs.
• Expanding securitisation and blended finance instruments.

Speakers:

RAPHAËLLE AUBERT
Head of the IFC Paris Office, IFC Representative for France, Spain and Israel

ALBERTO SÁNCHEZ NAVALPOTRO 
CEO at Inbonis Rating

ANTONIO GARCÍA DEL RIEGO
Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) 

SÉBASTIEN RASPILLER
Secretary General - Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), France

This is an in-person event; participation is by invitation only. Pease reach out to smefinanceforum@ifc.org to attend the event.