“Europe has savings. Unfortunately, these savings are idle. Today, 10 trillion euros of household savings are in bank deposits. A large portion of Europe’s savings is invested outside our continent. Europe now needs to use them for its businesses. We have already made proposals. Together, they could unlock up to 470 billion euros,” said U. von der Leyen.
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Posts soon appeared on social networks presenting this statement as proof that the European Union is preparing to confiscate the savings held by residents in banks, in other words – to seize them without the owners’ consent and redirect them to finance businesses or other EU needs.
Some posts give the impression that this is not about voluntary investment or stimulating financial markets, but about forcibly taking private funds.
However, this Ursula von der Leyen quote does not imply that there is a proposal to confiscate, seize, or otherwise forcibly take residents’ savings. The meaning given to her words in the Facebook post is much more radical than in their original context.
The quote is authentic – conclusions are false
The quote is authentic. U. von der Leyen said these words on August 27, 2026, in Paris, at the annual conference of the employers’ organization MEDEF “La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France 2026”.
The official source shows that she spoke about the fact that a large portion of Europeans’ savings is held in bank deposits or invested outside Europe, so more of this capital could be directed to European companies and investments.
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However, U. von der Leyen did not talk about seizing residents’ savings. Later in the speech, she clearly indicated that she meant the EU Savings and Investments Union (SIU). This initiative aims to create more opportunities for residents to voluntarily invest savings in capital markets, as well as to encourage investments by banks and insurance companies, the development of securities markets, and greater integration of EU financial markets.
According to the European Commission’s assessment, such measures could help attract up to 470 billion euros in additional investments.
Neither in U. von der Leyen’s speech nor in the Savings and Investments Union documents is there any provision for the possibility of EU institutions or states taking over, confiscating, or forcibly transferring residents’ bank deposits. The discussion is about expanding investment opportunities and incentives to voluntarily direct part of savings into investments, not about seizing them.
15min verdict: falsehood. U. von der Leyen’s quote is authentic, but on social networks it is given a meaning that is neither in her speech nor in the EU Savings and Investments Union plans. The European Commission President spoke about the aim to create more opportunities for Europeans to voluntarily invest their savings in European capital markets and companies. There are no plans to confiscate, seize, or take over residents’ bank deposits without owners’ consent in these documents.
This publication was prepared by 15min in cooperation with Meta, aiming to stop the spread of misleading news on the social network. More about the program and its rules – here.
