How to ensure a balanced EU approach towards credit agreements for the benefit of consumers?

Digitalisation has profoundly changed the lending sector as well as the behaviours of consumers. The revision of the Consumer Credit Directive will make sure that our legislative framework keeps pace with digital transformation of our society, the new ways of disclosing information and assessing the creditworthiness, new players and new products. The Directive will increase consumer protection by improving rules on creditworthiness assessment, presentation of credits adapted to digital devices as well as financial education.

In light of the digitalisation and the increased demand for consumer credits, we should ensure consumer's adequate protection while supporting the competitiveness of legitimate credit providers. This is a key area for the most vulnerable citizens but also for all citizens and businesses that want to keep providing consumer friendly and safe products/payment methods.

17:00-17:20:

Welcome and introductory remarks by Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Renew shadow rapporteur on the Consumer Credits Directive

17:20-18:30:

Panel of representatives and a Q&A moderated by Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Renew shadow rapporteur on the Consumer Credits Directive

Panelists:

- Peter Norwood; Senior Research and Advocacy officer, Finance Watch

- Elie Beyrouthy; Vice President, European Government Affairs, American Express

- Richard Knubben; Director General, Eurofinas-LeaseEurope

- Cecile Barateau; Director for External Relations, Cdiscount

- Louis Chatriot; Chairman and co-founder, ALMA

18:30-18:40:

Concluding remarks by Comissioner Didier Reynders

18:40-19:00:

Cocktail

Mr. Peter Norwood; Senior Research and Advocacy officer, Finance Watch

Finance Watch is a European NGO created in response to the 2008 financial crisis, defending the public interest in the making of financial regulations.

Mr Norwood has been Senior Research and Advocacy officer at Finance Watch since 2020 and, prior to this, has worked more than ten years for regulators, institutions and associations in the financial services sector such as the German Insurance Association, the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the European Commission as a Seconded Financial Expert.

His main policy topics are : insurance, capital markets, sustainable finance, retail

Mr. Elie Beyrouthy; Vice President, European Government Affairs, American Express.

American Express, a major actor in payment solutions, is the world’s first non-bank payment card issuer and is focused around : payment companies and the facilitation of a network of traders.

Mr. Beyrouthy is specialised in banking law, international law, negotiation, EU institutions and government relations. He also is a member of the Banking Stakeholder Group at the EBA and the Chair of the Executive Board of the European Payment Institutions Federation (EPIF).

Mr. Richard Knubben; Director General, Eurofinas-LeaseEurope

Eurofinas is specialised in consumer credit providers and is the only EU federation that exclusively focuses on all policy and regulatory issues related to consumer credit. LeaseEurope is the Federation of Leasing Associations and represents the leasing and automotive rental industries in 33 European countries.

With a more than 16 years of experience in the corporate and political sector, Mr. Knubben has specialised in public affairs, consumer rights, industry policy, business development and corporate communications.

Ms. Cecile Barateau; Director for External Relations, Cdiscount

Since its creation in 1998, the marketplace Cdiscount has been the leader of French e-commerce and a real digital actor in Europe, relying on its numerous sectors of activity.

Prior to this, Ms. Barateau was Senior Manager of public affairs for group Casino. Also, Ms. Barateau has experience in the public sector, having been advisor to the regional economic, environmental and social council and representative to the vice-president in charge of finance and contracting for the Île-de-France region.

Mr. Louis Chatriot; Chairman and co-founder, ALMA

ALMA is a start-up created almost 5 years ago that permits customers to pay their purchases over time, without worrying about fraud, defaults and collection.

Founder and CEO of ALMA, Louis Chatriot also founded TLDR.IO and is the former General Manager for Italy at STRIPE and former head of Location Motion in Europe.