BRUSSELS, 18 September 2026 — Experts from EU institutions, national governments, development finance institutions, impact investors, and selected market actors will gather on 24 September to explore  how the revised Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) can work in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE).

Under the theme “Getting SFDR 2.0 fit for purpose for DFIs and EMDE investment”, EDFI –  Association of European Development Finance Institutions – will host that day its Autumn Policy Exchange at Town Hall Europe in Brussels. Some 60 people scheduled to attend, the event comes at a pivotal moment as the SFDR is under review. The framework shapes how financial market participants such as asset managers, investors, pension funds , report on sustainability, classify products, and explain their investment choices. The rules also influence the signals that sustainability claims send to the market.

SFDR matters in Europe, and beyond

SFDR matters beyond Europe as DFIs and other investors in emerging markets and developing economies often work in settings with less data, different laws, and distinct paths towards a low-carbon economy. High-impact investments may struggle to meet requirements designed mainly for mature EU markets.

The event builds on the April release of the EDFI position paper on SFDR 2.0, discussions held in June at the SPTF SIWG/FIEC meeting in Amsterdam, and the recent EDFI-produced Open Tuning podcast dedicated to the topic.

EDFI notes in its paper that policy should not weaken rules against greenwashing. Instead, the updated version, called “SFDR 2.0”, should protect trust in sustainable finance and improve transparency. It should also avoid situations whereby capital becomes blocked from reaching EMDE’s businesses and projects that can support climate goals, jobs, and wider development.

Keynotes explore proposed framework potential barriers

The Autumn Policy Exchange will explore where the proposed framework may create such barriers. The session will begin with keynote interventions from the European Commission, EDFI Association, the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) network and Eurosif. These perspectives will then feed into a panel discussion with policymakers, DFIs and impact investors focused on the practical implications of SFDR 2.0 for EMDE investment and private capital mobilisation..

The event is designed to test assumptions, share practical experience, and identify options that can make the framework both credible and useful. The exchange will support EDFI Association work as negotiations on the SFDR review move forward.

Event panel: Debate on risks in policy formation

An event panel will address tensions in the policy debate, with greenwashing vs. capital mobilisation being one of the single biggest risks to getting SFDR wrong. Policymakers point to the risk of greenwashing leading to a loss of credibility and loss of transparency. Meantime DFIs worry the exclusion of high-impact EMDE investments means capital not reaching the real economy where it can make the biggest change.

EU-centric barriers such as EU laws and EU Taxonomy loom large in the revision process, including whether greater recognition should be given to locally applicable taxonomies or internationally recognised frameworks such as IFC PS.

A central question posed will cover current proposals, with exchange on the most practical adjustments to make SFDR 2.0 more usable for EMDE investors without weakening its integrity. One possible tweak discussed is recognition of use-of-proceeds beyond bonds such as ring-fenced loans supporting transition activities through local financial institutions.

See more information at the EDFI Autumn Policy Exchange event page.

Listen: EDFI Podcast on SFDR on Spotify | YouTube

Read: EDFI Policy Paper on SFDR

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