Danes push for grand compromise on bank rules / EU edges towards deal on bank safety / UK in furious rejection of EU bank plan / UK ready to back EU bank reform

Series Title
Series Details 2.5.12
Publication Date 02/05/2012
Content Type

One of the main priorities of the Danish Presidency, January-June 2012 was to achieve agreement on the new EU rules on capital requirements for banks during the first half of 2012. The Danish Presidency therefore convened an extra ECOFIN meeting on 2 May 2012 with the purpose of achieving agreement on a general approach in the Council on the Presidency’s compromise proposal regarding capital requirements.

Feature follow the outcome of this meeting, including objections from the United Kingdom. However, on the 14 May 2012 the FT reported that the UK was to drop some of its objections to the EU’s flagship reforms for the banking sector, removing the main political obstacle to a deal on one of the most divisive regulation issues in Brussels.

Following the meeting the Danish EU Presidency stated that 'At yesterday's meeting, EU’s finance and economy ministers had a constructive discussion regarding the proposal for new EU rules on capital requirements for banks. The Danish Presidency believes that an agreement in the Council is close, and the Presidency hopes to come to a final agreement at the forthcoming ECOFIN' (on the 15 May 2012).

Commentators noted that this diplomatic language disguised an acrimonious 16-hour long meeting with the United Kingdom strongly objecting to aspects of the proposals.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/danes-push-grand-compromise-bank-rules-news-512425
Related Links
EurActiv, 16.5.12: Finance ministers agree bank rules as UK wins concession http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/ministers-agree-bank-rules-offer-uk-concession-news-512737
BBC News, 15.5.12: EU agrees strict new bank rules http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18079781
EUObserver, 2.5.12: Ministers in bid to agree stricter rules for banks http://euobserver.com/19/116106
Denmark; EU Presidency: Press Release, 1.5.12: New rules for capital requirements aim at securing healthy banks in Europe http://eu2012.dk/en/NewsList/April/Uge-18/pre-ecofin
ESO: Background information: Big banks failed to meet Basel III in 2011 http://www.europeansources.info/record/big-banks-failed-to-meet-basel-iii-in-2011/
EurActiv, 3.5.12: EU bank talks collapse as UK's Osborne walks out in fury http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-bank-talks-collapse-uks-osborne-walks-fury-news-512458
EUObserver, 3.5.12: UK loses temper in 16-hour-long EU bank meeting http://euobserver.com/19/116113
Denmark: EU Presidency, 3.5.12: Closing in on new capital requirements for banks http://eu2012.dk/en/NewsList/April/Uge-18/post-ecofin
Le Figaro / Le Monde, 2.5.12: London and Paris clash over banks (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/1911441-london-and-paris-clash-over-banks
Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/12/186: Bank capital rules: General approach agreed ahead of talks with Parliament http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ecofin/130264.pdf
Denmark: EU Presidency: Press Release, 15.5.12: New Capital Requirements Directive strengthens rules for banks http://eu2012.dk/en/NewsList/Maj/Uge-20/CRD4
EUObserver, 15.5.12: Member states and MEPs agree battle lines on bank rules http://euobserver.com/19/116277
European Parliament: Press Release, 14.5.12: Bank capital rules: reform to boost risk resilience and lending to the real economy http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120511IPR44896/

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