EU Leader Calls for Mobilising €10 trillion in Savings to Boost Start-ups
Ursula von der Leyen warned that Europeans hold about €10 trillion in bank deposits that are not being invested in EU companies and outlined proposals to channel some of that money into the capital market.
At the annual French Entrepreneurs Conference, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that European households collectively hold about €10 trillion in bank accounts that remain idle for investment purposes. She blamed a risk-averse business environment and costly capital for stalling projects, noting that many startups relocate financing outside the EU or are acquired. The Commission’s March 2025 “Strategy for the Economic and Investment Union” proposes measures such as securitisation, greater involvement of banks and insurers, and enhanced market supervision, estimating a potential €470 billion boost in investment.
The article contrasts this approach with the United States, where private retirement accounts total over $47 trillion and drive venture funding. It argues that without tax incentives or a pan-EU retirement scheme, Europeans are unlikely to shift savings into riskier assets. The piece concludes that the EU’s plan relies on voluntary participation and cultural change rather than any forced redirection of private funds.
Why it matters
It shows how the EU hopes to tap dormant household savings to fund growth, a move that could reshape European investment markets.
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