Setting the Course Together – Cross-Party Workshop on Transformation Finance
February 26 in Berlin, in cooperation with Brand New Bundestag
Expertise Meets Political Practice
A particular highlight was the exchange with experts from the financial sector and industry. Far removed from the usual committee rhetoric, the format enabled genuine "capacity building." Especially valuable was the participation of MPs whose daily focus is not typically on financial policy, but who are directly confronted in their constituencies with the consequences of a lack of investment.
Key Takeaways from the Debate
Based on the evening’s guiding questions, four central insights emerged:
Leveraging Public Funds: It became clear that public money must be deployed strategically where it can maximally mobilize private capital. Participants engaged in intensive discussions on innovative instruments to dismantle investment barriers.
Holistic Industrial Policy: The link between financial market regulation and industrial policy is not an abstract theoretical construct. A stable pension system and future-proof retirement provisions depend directly on how boldly we invest in transformation today.
Transparency and Data: A central obstacle for private investors remains the lack of reliable data. In order to assess risks in a resilient manner, there is a need for modern institutional design and clear political guardrails.
Stability through Sustainability: The perspective on sustainable financial products must shift – away from the niche and toward the standard for a stable financial system. This is the only way to minimize long-term risks for Germany as a business location.
A Strong Signal for Democracy
The workshop demonstrated that trust in our democracy is closely linked to economic perspectives. When MPs—from the Left Party to the CDU/CSU—work together on viable narratives and solutions, it strengthens the functional capacity of the entire parliament.
We would like to thank all participants for their openness and constructive spirit. With solid knowledge and new arguments in hand, we are convinced that debates in committees and locally in the constituencies can now be conducted in an even more targeted manner.
Transformation is affordable – if we shape it together!
