The bid by Euronext, a major European stock exchange group, to acquire the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) is not an isolated development in Greece but part of a broader strategy that has delivered significant benefits to investors across Europe. If the ASE joins Euronext’s network, it will gain access to a unified trading platform and a capital markets ecosystem that has already strengthened markets in countries such as Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Norway, according to Euronext’s annual reports.
In Portugal, the merger of the Lisbon Stock Exchange with Euronext in 2002 led to a substantial upgrade of the market. The Portuguese capital market became more attractive to foreign investors, while many small and medium-sized businesses were able to raise funding at lower costs. Investors gained access to advanced technological tools, resulting in increased liquidity and improved trading experiences.
Even more impressive was the case of Italy, where Borsa Italiana joined Euronext in 2021. Although the Italian market already had size and depth, its integration into the pan-European platform brought rapid improvements in infrastructure, enhanced cross-border access, and increased transparency. Furthermore, Italy gained a significant voice in the strategic direction of the group—a development that benefited local companies and investors who found a highly reliable platform.
Norway, which joined Euronext’s network in 2020 through Oslo Børs, saw its capital market—particularly in the energy and shipping sectors—gain new momentum. Investors benefited from increased participation of international capital and the integration of the exchange into a unified environment of rules and infrastructure.
Therefore, the shared experience of these countries shows that joining a strong group with interconnectivity, a central platform, and European operational standards creates multiple benefits for investors: increased liquidity, easier access to investment products, transparent rules, and technological superiority. These elements ultimately translate into more opportunities and reduced investment risk.
For Greece, the potential acquisition of the Stock Exchange by Euronext would represent not just a change in ownership but a chance to integrate into a completely different operational model. Greek investors would gain access to a common trading platform with investors from Western and Northern Europe, while Greek companies could raise capital in a more visible and reputable environment. The technological transition to the Optiq platform, already in use across all Euronext markets, ensures speed, reliability, and lower transaction costs.
The key challenge now is for the Greek market to follow in the footsteps of other countries, capitalizing on this opportunity to modernize and grow.