Relations with national, European and international institutions and advocacy actions

Within the Italian Banking Association (ABI), Intesa Sanpaolo actively participates in the Working Groups dedicated to issues such as the new strategy on sustainable finance, green taxonomy, the integration of ESG risk factors, in the management of risks related to corporate financing activities, non-financial reporting and social sustainability.

The Bank contributed to the definition of the ABI response to the consultation on the updating of the national strategy of the circular economy announced by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and is collaborating in the preparation of the "Vademecum on the circular economy", an informative tool, jointly created by ABI and consumer associations to transfer information on the subject to the interested consumer and increase their sensitivity. Intesa Sanpaolo actively participates in the "Carta D- Women in the bank" project to enhance gender diversity as a key resource for sustainable development and growth also in the company.

In addition to the work within ABI, Intesa Sanpaolo Group has continued to develop its relationship with the leading Italian trade associations with the aim of increasing awareness about sustainability and ESG criteria among companies and networks.

Intesa Sanpaolo has long started an open and constructive dialogue with all the Consumer Associations belonging to the National Council of Consumer Consumers (recognized by the Ministry of Economic Development) and representative at national level.

In this context, it signed the Framework Agreement "We innovate relationships" in 2019 (renewed on 21 July 2021) which provides for the formation of 3 permanent discussion tables on the topics of greatest interest: Products and Services / Banking-insurance education / Territorial relations; Legislation / Authority-Customer Service / Conciliation; Educational / Sustainability-Impact.

Intesa Sanpaolo is also a member and member of the Board of Consumers' Forum, an independent association which includes the most important Consumer Associations, numerous industrial and service companies and their trade associations, institutions, which aims to maintain an open and permanent dialogue between companies and consumer organizations.

The issues of access to credit (public guarantees) and grants and/or alternative tools  to support companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis to promote the competitiveness of companies, also deepened in the Plenary and in different context of working groups, such as the Italian Financial Center for Sustainability leaded by banking and finance associations (ABI and Sustainable Reindustrialization.Febaf), as well as through direct talks with national and local public institutions, were also given special attention. A detailed monitoring of grants offered by regions and regional financial companies has been prepared. A specific focus in this area has been reserved to those aimed at supporting innovative companies, new-established companies (start-ups) and youth entrepreneurship.

Two projects were launched which provide for the establishment of permanent Observatories on issues falling within the scope of sustainability and inclusion.

The first Observatory has as its objective the analysis and dialogue on the demographic trends, competitiveness and sustainability of the Country, by carrying out studies and organizing awareness-raising events.

The analysis of the demographic phenomenon, in fact, can be included in the reflection on the socio-economic development of Italy and can play an important role for the social sustainability of the Country.

The second Observatory focuses on financial inclusion, as an enabler of economic growth for young people, women, foreigners, start-ups and micro-enterprises.

 As part of the work started there is the activation of a study on the dynamics of integration of migrants for the sustainable growth of the country implemented in 2018, the start and consolidation of the dialogue dedicated to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation with the scientific publication published by Euricse, dedicated to best practices in support of the social and economic inclusion of migrants and asylum seekers, the continuation of the training project of the Foundation itself and of the Catholic University in which Intesa Sanpaolo defined its intervention in the project and illustrated its best practice to the students of the degree course in Sustainability Management. 

Dialogue has also been initiated with some national and international institutions, with international organizations, foundations and sector associations. In this context, Intesa Sanpaolo was invited to the national round table on financial inclusion promoted by the MEF and the Bank of Italy in the context of the country's participation in the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion and to the round table dedicated to the topic of inclusion financial institution set up at the ABI.