Improving financial education in the EU
20.7.2017
Question for written answer E-005037-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE)
A survey by Standard & Poor’s and the George Washington University in the United States has highlighted the poor level of financial literacy both in the EU and around the world, connected in particular with the gender gap and the level of income. In the EU, while Denmark and Sweden have the highest rates of financial literacy in the world, in Spain 20 million people over the age of 15 are unaware of basic economic concepts.
In Spain, this situation is particularly serious in light of the fraud committed through financial products such as preferred shares and unfair terms in mortgage contracts, as set out in the European Parliament resolution on mortgage legislation and risky financial instruments in Spain.
Given that the Commission sees financial education as essential for the creation of the single market and that its promotion has been an objective to be achieved (COM(2007) 808 final):
- 1.Does the Commission intend to adopt legislative measures obliging Member States to promote financial education in an effective manner?
- 2.Will the Commission take action to increase the activities of the Expert Group on Financial Education which it set up, and give it more powers?
- 3.Does the Commission intend to renew the programmes in this field such as Dolceta or Consumer Classroom, or create new ones?