Follow Us

Follow us on Twitter  Follow us on LinkedIn

Article List:

 

05 June 2013

Reuters: Europe considers new agency to shut failing banks


Default: Change to:


Banks under the watch of the ECB that run into difficulty could be shut by a European agency, under a proposal that is set to rouse opposition in eurozone capitals


European officials are seeking to design a scheme to close troubled banks to complement a contentious new system of supervision in the eurozone led by the European Central Bank. The first leg of this banking union is due to be completed next year when the ECB takes on the supervision of banks. Now negotiations are under way to build the second leg - an agency to close banks with a central fund to cover the costs involved.

The European Commission is drafting the plan and, on Wednesday, commissioners from each of the European Union's 27 members met to discuss an early outline of the blueprint seen by Reuters. In it, officials suggest giving the European Commission and a newly-created agency powers to close banks were the ECB to spot a problem and, in the words of one person close to the matter, "ring the bell".

There would also be an industry-sponsored fund to pay for the clean-up or 'resolution' although it is unclear who would cover such costs during the years when this is being built up.

It is unlikely, however, that Berlin would accept the creation of a new agency in Brussels or elsewhere with powers to overrule its own national authorities on the sensitive issue of whether to save or close an ailing bank.

Full article



© Reuters


< Next Previous >
Key
 Hover over the blue highlighted text to view the acronym meaning
Hover over these icons for more information



Add new comment