Until 2000, financial education was hardly perceived as an issue. However, first research showed that the scale of the problem is vast. Due to demographic, economic and policy changes - such as pensions - and the development of financial market offers, individuals are compelled to take financial decisions, when some of them were taken for them in the past. National strategies in place in Europe differ quite remarkably. The European Commission has just launched a Communication, aiming at promoting financial capability by way of basic principles based on best practices, and announces a handful of initiatives. The debate at the European level is only launched. It signals a shift from a curative approach to a preventive one to empower and protect consumers. For further information please refer to our Briefing Paper.