I'm passionate about it because it's important for families and society.

And now today we've pulled together with the cooperation and working so well with the Belgian presidency that it really is a moment to celebrate.

So cheers to all of us.

Then to the meat of the sandwich.

Jean-Paul [Servais], thank you very much.

I have to say, you're one of the cheeriest colleagues to be in a room with late in the evening when we're trying to find a compromise.

But really, a sincere thanks not just for your opening remarks and the passion with which you spoke on financial literacy, and the resilience and inclusion piece, but also for the use of the hall, clearly.

But also to your services, who worked so well with my services, so FSMA and FISMA worked really well together.

I want to mention in particular our close relationship and my working relationship with Minister Van Peteghem, not only Minister for Finance but also Deputy Prime Minister.

And really I have had such an open ear on this topic, because we both share a belief that we can make a difference to society.

Because all too often when we think of financial services, it's for the finance industry, so it's set apart.

But in fact the financial sector is for people and business.

And I think today's conference is about widening the conversation, talking about not just what Europe is doing, but we have colleagues from across the globe.

We have OECD, we have Morocco, we have the US.

Because we don't have all the answers, but we want to share our experience, and you equally will share yours with us.

So today is actually one of the most important conferences that I will address as Commissioner.

It is very close to my heart. I suppose my experience of journalism from 1980 up to 2004, I would have reported on situations where there were difficulties around financial literacy, where people got themselves into debt, unknowingly and unwittingly, and paid a high price.

We lived through the financial crisis.

We saw what happened to families and society.

So we don't want to go back there again.

We don't want to repeat those mistakes, and we shouldn't, because we now are better equipped and have better knowledge around this policy area.

Because we're here to make a difference in the lives of people.

Because financial literacy and knowing how to manage your money is really central, not just to financial wellbeing but general wellbeing.

I want everyone to have the skills and the confidence, and I repeat the word confidence, to know your way around money and what to do with it.

To be able to ask the right questions when you don't know, and to persist in asking those questions.

I often find that there are may in a room who will want to ask a question of a panellist, but are a little bit shy in case they're shown up.

I've never suffered from such embarrassment.

I've always asked the basic questions.

Because if you do that, you will get answers, and if you persist.

So I want people to have that sense of confidence because we all need to take financial decisions that work for us and allow us achieve our goals.

We need to assess risks involved when we do go into buy financial products, and also that depends on your own personal circumstances.

And sometimes navigating the whole financial landscape, which is becoming quite complex and digitalised can add problems for people.

And when I mention digitalisation, it's a fantastic resource, and we're all going towards a more digitalised economy and society.

Sometimes people can be excluded because of it, so we have to be very mindful of that.

I like the word financially savvy. I think that encapsulates....

 more at Commission