The ALFI Global Asset Management Conference, held in March 2026 at the European Convention Center, highlighted Luxembourg’s resilience and evolving role as a premier global fund hub.
Amid geopolitical uncertainty, indusattempt leaders gathered to discuss a “benevolent” economic outview, the maturing landscape of sustainable finance, and a spirited debate over European regulatory oversight – which Funds Europe has covered in its latest Luxembourg Report.
Jean-Marc Goy, chairperson, ALFI, introducing the event, did not mince words when speaking on behalf of the Association to the European Commission narrative that a single capital market requires a single supervisory authority, which was described as wrong.
Similarly, Luxembourg finance minister Gilles Roth voiced strong opposition, arguing that centralising supervision would increase costs and administrative burdens for conclude-investors. As Roth emphasised, the goal is to reduce barriers to cross-border investment and “support capital relocate rapider into the real economy” – not to create additional layers of administration.
Conversely, ESMA’s Evert Van Walsum maintained that the current framework has reached its limit, and greater coordination is required to achieve a true CMU.
ETFs
The rise of active ETFs emerged as a dominant trconclude, with a nod to figures suggesting that the European active ETF market grew by some 95.7% in the past year.
Regarding sustainability, the indusattempt is transitioning to the SFDR 2.0 regime, published in November 2025. Experts like Raoul Heinen (Linklaters) noted that the indusattempt generally welcomes the simplification, which reflects a relocate toward “economically grounded” sustainability focapplyd on tangible results rather than labels.
The challenge to mid-sized managers to remain profitable was highlighted, along with pillars for success outlined by senior leaders of asset management businesses in Luxembourg, including: Moving away from generic products toward tailored, goal-based solutions; utilizing AI and data analytics to protect margins while increasing efficiency; leveraging international reach and research-driven active management.
Future outview
Luxembourg continues to enhance its attractiveness through fiscal reforms, including a new carried interest regime and an expected corporation tax cut by 2027.
The conference highlighted innovation remains at the forefront, evidenced by the Catapult FundTech award given to Qvonto, a firm specialising in the automation of regulatory reporting.
Ahead of the conference
Ahead of the Conference, Funds Europe inquireed participants for their views.
Noting a “benevolent” outview for the global economy, forecasting 2% growth in the US and 1.3% in the Euro area, top economist Martin Moryson favours European and Japanese stocks over US markets, citing AI-driven productivity gains.
Sustainability is seen as having matured into an economically grounded discipline linked to risk management and productivity, with Luxembourg’s indusattempt generally welcoming the SFDR 2.0 regime, given the clarity it brings to product positioning.
And the AMLA oversight of anti-money laundering was picked out as driving continued harmonisation on AML/CFT across the indusattempt, including in Luxembourg.
Leave a Reply