Parliamentary question - E-6421/2009Parliamentary question
E-6421/2009

Impact of more stringent capital requirements on the situation of Eastern European banks and access to credit for SMEs

WRITTEN QUESTION E-6421/09
by Enikő Győri (PPE)
to the Commission

It is well known that, on account of the global economic crisis, Western European banks have lost substantial sums on toxic instruments and have only been able to rebuild their operations thanks to significant state aid. On the other hand, it has not been necessary to provide State rescue packages for Central and Eastern European banks, as a result of which they currently do not have surplus funds by means of which to comply with stricter capital requirements. Ultimately therefore the victims of the EU's stricter capital requirements will be SMEs in central and eastern Europe, as there is reason to fear that the banks will become even more reluctant to provide credit and will compel SMEs to foot the bill for the more stringent capital requirements. Might the planned tightening-up of capital requirements place Central and Eastern European banks at a disadvantage in comparison with their well capitalised Western European competitors? Have any calculations been made as to what market shares might be lost to Central and Eastern European SMEs producing for domestic markets as a result of the credit squeeze caused by more stringent capital requirements?

OJ C 10 E, 14/01/2011