The Commission is advancing the savings and investments union to deliver tangible benefits for all EU citizens. Two new proposals focus on improving financial literacy at all stages of life and introducing a blueprint for an easy and accessible investment tool.

Financial literacy strategy

Less than 20% of EU citizens have a high level of financial literacy, according to a recent survey. The new strategy aims to enhance citizens’ financial awareness and support EU countries in improving financial literacy, through

• coordination and sharing of national and international best practices
• communication and an EU-wide campaign to raise awareness   
• EU funding for financial literacy initiatives and research
• monitoring progress and assessing impact over time.

EU citizens have one of the highest savings rates in the world but often do not get the most out of their savings. With the right knowledge and skills, they can make sound financial decisions, budget better, avoid scams and fraud, save more efficiently and feel better equipped to invest for their future. 

Savings and investment accounts

Citizens also need simple and accessible investment opportunities. Savings and investment accounts (SIAs) are designed to provide them with an easy and user-friendly way to grow their wealth and achieve their personal financial goals.

SIAs are accounts provided by authorised financial services providers which enable retail investors to invest in capital markets. Thanks to tax incentives and simplified tax procedures, they’re an attractive option for citizens who want to invest. Through SIAs, citizens can achieve higher returns on their savings compared to keeping them in bank deposits and choose which financial products and economic sectors to invest in. By doing so, they also help finance EU businesses, driving economic growth and job creation across Europe.

SIAs already exist in some EU countries. The Commission is now recommending that all EU countries introduce them. SIAs should have these key features

• a variety of providers: a wide range of authorised financial services providers (banks, investment firms, neobrokers) to boost competition and innovation
• simplicity: simple, reliable and easily accessible user experience for retail investors (online and offline) to make the buying and selling of assets seamless
• flexibility: retail investors should be allowed to open multiple accounts with different providers, without excessive fees or cumbersome processes when transferring their portfolios
• broad investment opportunities: in various products such as shares, bonds and investment funds, allowing citizens to diversify their portfolios across asset classes, issuers, manufacturers, geographies and risk profiles
• tax incentives: well-targeted and simple to understand and apply
• simplified taxation process: streamlined tax procedures, including relying on SIA providers for tax declarations

The Commission will work closely with EU countries and stakeholders to implement these measures. Europe’s citizens should feel confident managing their money and savings, have better access to investment opportunities and thrive financially.  

For more information

Press release

Questions and answers

Factsheet

Competitiveness

Illustration of what the UN has termed the ‘triple planetary crisis’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution across the global ocean. Adapted from: von Schuckmann et al, 2025. Copernicus Ocean State Report 9, Chapter 1.

The ocean absorbs 90% of the excess heat caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Since the 1960s, ocean warming has accelerated, indicating that the Earth’s system is dangerously out of balance due to climate change. The report also highlights that areas of marine biodiversity hotspots are acidifying faster than the global average, with multiple and rapid ocean change increasingly threatening endangered species. Plastic waste from every continent is polluting all ocean basins. 

• The ocean is getting hotter, faster: The ocean is warming at an accelerated pace, with global sea surface temperatures hitting a new record in spring 2024 at 21°C. Global average sea surface temperature is slow to change, but even apparently small changes can have huge impacts on key components of the Earth system.

• Record-breaking marine heatwaves in 2023 and 2024: Exceptionally intense and persistent marine heatwaves affected much of the ocean in 2023 and 2024, surpassing previous ocean surface temperature records such as in 2015 and 2016 by 0.25°C. Some Atlantic waters spent over 300 days out of 365 in marine heatwave conditions in 2023. These extreme events are known to negatively impact food production, marine ecosystems and coastal economies.

• Sea level rise accelerates at record rates, raising concern for homes and cultural heritage: Global sea levels rose 228mm between 1901-2024. Sea level rise is increasing the risk of flooding and erosion in coastal areas — changes that occur in regions where around 200 million people live along Europe’s coasts. Many coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites in low-lying areas across Europe will be flooded in the coming centuries or millennia due to sea level rise. 

• Marine life sustains pressures: Ocean warming and acidification are hitting marine ecosystems globally. A warming ocean is shifting key micronekton zones, causing their boundaries to move toward the poles. Simultaneously, 75% of countries emitting over 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually border already vulnerable coral reefs.

• Invasive species harm fisheries: In summer 2023, the longest marine heatwave on record in the Mediterranean led to surface water temperatures 4.3°C above normal. This allowed invasive species to wreak havoc in Italy; Atlantic Blue Crabs caused a 75-100% collapse in clam production in the Po Delta, while Bearded Fireworms affected artisanal fisheries in Sicily.

• Sea ice has been declining: The Arctic recorded four all-time lows between December 2024 and March 2025. In March 2025, there was 1.2 million km² less sea ice than the long-term winter average, an area more 4 times the size of Poland. The Antarctic experienced its third consecutive year of low sea ice extent in 2024, after setting an all-time record low in 2023. In February 2025, there were approximately 0.6 million km² less sea ice than the long-term average, an area twice the size of Italy.

The annual report brings together the knowledge of over 70 experts from Europe and around the world. The Copernicus Marine Service, implemented by Mercator Ocean on behalf of the European Commission, officially released the report on 30 September 2025.

Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space: 

“The findings of the Ocean State Report are an alarming reminder of the pressing challenges facing our ocean. At the same time, as European, I am reassured that Europe has a leading role in observing and forecasting different ocean state parameters through the unique Union-owned Copernicus Earth observation system and its services, particularly the marine service. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the global ocean’s state, trends, and natural variations, while showcasing innovative monitoring tools that enable sustainable coexistence with marine ecosystems. This fully supports the European Ocean Pact priorities, making the report a substantial contribution to the European ambitions in stewarding our ocean.”

Pierre Bahurel, Director General of Mercator Ocean International: 

”The Ninth Copernicus Ocean State Report confirms that we are dangerously approaching planetary boundaries: every part of the ocean is now affected by the triple planetary crisis. In such a context, we need reliable science and operational tools more than ever. The Copernicus Marine Service – which Mercator Ocean has been implementing on behalf of the European commission for nearly a decade – provides this unique foundation. Its annual report turns cutting-edge science into actionable knowledge, helping Europe and the world strengthen resilience, safeguard security, and protect the ocean for future generations.”

“Protecting the ocean’s vital role in sustaining life and livelihoods starts with understanding how and why it is changing. The latest Copernicus Ocean State Report reveals record-breaking events, accelerating trends, and growing impacts on marine ecosystems and societies – providing the science needed to inform effective, forward-looking decisions”

 said Dr. Karina von Schuckmann, Senior advisor at Mercator Ocean International and Chair of Copernicus Ocean State Report activities.

“The science is unequivocal: the ocean is changing fast, with record extremes and mounting impacts. We know why, and we know what it means. This knowledge is not just a warning — it’s a blueprint for restoring balance between people and the ocean.”

• Starfish Barometer added to the EU Copernicus Ocean State Report: On World Ocean Day 2025, during UNOC3, the research community committed to publishing the Starfish Barometer annually. The 2025 edition is now included in the Ocean State Report, complementing its comprehensive scientific data, and will be part of every future edition, further strengthening the OSR’s role as a trusted reference for ocean science and policy. More information about the Starfish Barometer