The New Basel Capital Accord And The Future Of The European Financial System

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed, up-to-date and critical analysis of the New Basel Capital Accord framework. It focuses on the limitations and pitfalls that may deserve further investigation, particularly at the European level. Moreover, it provides a provisional assessment of its effects on small- and medium-sized European banks, as well as small- and medium-sized European enterprises. It examines the procyclicality of the new Accord and offers mechanisms to counter it. Finally, it addresses the challenges of implementing the new rules at the EU level.

The European Union Committee undertook this inquiry as the implications of the financial crisis became clear. Supervisors in the UK, in the EU, and globally failed to identify the impending meltdown, and failed to take preventative action. Reform of regulation and supervision of the financial system has become an important political topic. In response to the crisis the European Commission has so far published four regulatory proposals on Capital Requirements, Deposit Guarantee Schemes, Credit Rating Agencies and Alternative Investment Funds. The first two of these have been agreed and are largely sensible responses to the crisis. The proposals to regulate alternative investment funds and credit rating agencies are more controversial, highlighting the need for more thorough consultation, impact assessment and risk analysis. Further coordination of supervision of the EU financial institutions and markets is seen as necessary and financial services in the EU will benefit from strengthened macro- and micro-prudential supervision. This should provide a more effective early warning system for mitigating systemic risks and help improve the operation of the single market in financial services. The Committee supports the establishment of a new body at the EU level to assess and monitor macro-prudential systemic risks arising from financial markets and institutions. Major strengthening of the powers of any EU micro-prudential body is, though, a matter of some controversy and thorough and careful debate of the alternatives for reform within existing limitations is necessary. The Commission has applied state aid rules speedily and flexibly and has helped ensure that bail-outs of failing banks and mitigation of damage to the real economy do not jeopardise the single market.

European Financial Systems in the Global Economy provides an overview of sources of finance, types of financial intermediation and financial systems in Europe and their relative importance in the world economy. It describes market mechanisms and prices and gives a broad introduction to the relevant regional financial and monetary issues (including those countries that will join the EU in the future) and makes an ideal primer for those new to the world of finance.

Evidence taken before Sub-committee A (Economic and Financial Affairs and International Trade)

This book explores the past and future of central bank cooperation. In today's global economy, the cooperation between central banks is a key element in maintaining or restoring monetary and financial stability, thereby ensuring a smooth functioning of the international financial system. Or is it? In this book, economists, historians, and political scientists look back at the experience of central bank cooperation during the past century - at its goals, nature, and processes and at its successes and failures - and draw lessons for the future. Particular attention is devoted to the role played by central bank cooperation in the formulation of minimum capital standards for internationally active banks (the Basel Capital Accord, Basel II), and in the process of European monetary unification and the introduction of the euro.