Repairing the financial sector swiftly to find the path to recovery

There is a strong correlation between healthy credit expansion and sustained economic development. Balance sheet repair in the banking sector is essential to improve cost efficiency, restore competitiveness and return to normal lending. A swift exit from sizable public support to banks will remove possible distortions to competition in the financial industry. Furthermore, confidence in the banking sector is a prerequisite for maintaining financial stability. This is now being corrected through a more robust EU regulatory framework, a future permanent "European Stability Mechanism" to be established by 2013 to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as whole, as well as tougher capital requirements on banks (Basel III agreement).