e-MFP and Cerise+SPTF Release Joint Position Paper on EU Sustainable Finance Regulation Reform
The European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and Cerise+SPTF have published a joint position paper titled “Making SFDR work for Global Competitiveness,” contributing to the ongoing Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) 2.0 reform process. The paper represents social and impact finance actors investing globally in financial inclusion and sustainable development.
As networks working with hundreds of investors, asset managers, and financial institutions active in emerging and developing markets, e-MFP and Cerise+SPTF view SFDR 2.0 as a strategic opportunity to reaffirm the EU’s global leadership in sustainable and impact finance. However, they note that the current framework often places disproportionate burdens on those operating in emerging markets, limiting capital flows to where it’s most needed.
The paper proposes four key areas to make SFDR truly global and fit-for-purpose:
refining the definition of sustainable investment to incorporate intentionality and transition finance;
making EU Taxonomy application more proportionate by recognizing international standards;
introducing a clear and graded product categorization system;
and establishing an Expert Group on Emerging Markets Investments to ensure inclusion of non-EU perspectives.
For both organizations, this initiative extends beyond regulatory concerns to ensuring inclusive, effective, and scalable pathways for sustainable investment, particularly in geographies and communities where it is most urgently needed.
