Fragmentation keeps the EU from turning its 18% share of global GDP into a comparable equity market presence. US firms now command more than 60% of global investable equity, while European companies lag at around 10%. The gap reflects a strategy that prioritised lanu stability over growth.

aketa's analysis points to the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) as a remedy. Simplifying the EU bank capital stack could unlock trillions of euros for domestic investment, freeing household savings from flowing to U.S. markets. The.HtmlLink to the SIU would also deepen capital markets, giving firms the finance they need to scale.

Ireland’s current EU Council presidency offers a timely window. The country champions the One Europe, One Market roadmap, set to finish the single market under existing treaties. Irish leaders argue that only a unified market can provide the scale that gives the bloc geopolitical power.

If the EU fails to deliver a coherent financial system, it risks a gradual slide into dependence. The decision forces investors and business leaders to weigh the cost of continued fragmentation against the gains of a fully integrated financial ecosystem.