The European Commission (EC) could announce this week the details of a new sovereign bond, which would allow for progress to be made in the financial and banking union. According to the EC, it would provide greater financial stability both for governments and European banks in the face of future hypothetical financial crises.
CaixaBank Research | The European Commission is looking at how the banks can have a more diversified portfolio of public debt securities. It is studying how to obtain a safe European asset without having to establish a tax union to back the issue of said asset.
J.L.M. Campuzano | Financial integration is a relevant factor for financial stability and facilitates the transmission of monetary policy. A few days ago, the ECB published an update on financial integration.
The European Parliament on Wednesday backed eurobonds as a medium-term solution for stabilising the Eurozone. But the decision did not go down well with the Spanish government which has sent its own proposal to Brusssels, stating that eurobonds are not “strictly necessary” to “guarantee fiscal support for banking union” and therefore “are not the priority.”
It’s been some time since Europe has had a leader with such clear ideas as Emmanuel Macron, but Angela Merkel is not really happy about it. And that’s logical, because she has been calling all the shots. She has the power in Europe and so don’t expect even the slightest concession from her which is anything more than esthetic.
The “eternal return” to a proposal to leave the euro seems to be an irresistable force for some people. A current case in point is Italy, but there are a couple of interesting precedents in the files, like Greece and Ireland.
Five years after saying no to participating in the EU Banking Union, it seems Sweden is now studying the possibility of joining, motivated precisely by the possible benefits the UK’s departure from the EU could bring.
The volume of M&A in the European banking sector has gone from 39 billion euros in 2008 to scarcely 9.5 billion in 2015. And in the first half of last year, it was little over 1 billion euros. Why has there not been more consolidation in the sector? It’s an important question for the European authorities who want to promote banking union to answer.
And it will have consequences for the Spanish banking sector’s solvency.
BRUSSELS | June 26, 2015 | By Jacobo de Regoyos | Along with other EU state members, Spain called for a eurozone-level budget for emergency rescues, and issue debt in the form of eurobonds. Álvaro Nadal, Director of the Economic Affairs Office of the Spanish Prime Minister explained it for The Corner. This is the first part of the interview.