News report | 24-02-2026 | 18:35
Her Majesty Queen Máxima spoke online on Tuesday afternoon, February 24, with the European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investment Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque. The discussion focused on how the European Commissions financial literacy strategy can contribute to the financial health of citizens in the European Union.
Last year, the European Commission launched the first Financial Literacy Strategy to improve knowledge about money matters so that people become financially more resilient. Only 18 percent of EU citizens are highly financially literate. Focus areas include budgeting, saving, responsible borrowing, and investing, with special attention to young people, women, and vulnerable groups. The strategy rests on four pillars: better coordination between EU member states, awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and regular monitoring.
Queen Máxima is a special advocate of the UN Secretary-General for financial health and honorary chair of the platform Wijzer in geldzaken and Stichting Financieel Gezond Nederland. She has been committed for over fifteen years to financial health and financial education in the Netherlands and internationally, such as promoting the importance of saving, budgeting, responsible borrowing, and building a pension. Financial education thus contributes to peoples financial health. This is not only an individual responsibility but also that of governments and financial service providers. Besides the importance of financial education, Queen Máxima advocates for the development of financial products and services and policies that enable people to gain control over their daily income and expenses, protect themselves against risks, invest responsibly, and contribute to confidence in the financial future.
RVD, no. 65