European Union officials appear to be preparing to follow the US and back away from the 1 January 2013 start date for the first round of Basel III rules.
The Reuters news agency yesterday reported an unnamed EU official saying that "whatever happens, the new law cannot become effective on January 1 ... the middle of the year would be a realistic assessment."
Reuters also quoted unnamed officials as saying that Michel Barnier, the EU commissioner in charge of financial regulation, has written to US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke expressing his worries.
But Basel Committee secretary-general Wayne Byres said yesterday that the 1 January start date would stay. Reuters reported him as saying that "we are persisting with the date and those not ready on Jan. 1 can be ready thereafter".
The possibility of an EU postponement is the latest development in
a growing dispute between US and European regulators over the start date. The US Federal Reserve triggered the dispute earlier this month when it said US federal banking agencies would not enforce the Basel III rules on January 1. Last week the European Banking Federation reportedly sent a letter to Barnier asking for a delay.
European bankers have argued that EU banks would be at a competitive disadvantage if they introduced the new rules before their US counterparts.
If Europe backs away from the 1 January start date, the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority may come under pressure to delay its planned 1 January introduction of the first round of Basel III rules.
The
Basel III rules raise the amount of basic capital banks need to hold and require a minimum of liquid assets. G20 nations have agreed to phase them in over a six-year period starting on 1 January 2013.