Consultation on countercyclical buffers

The services of the European Commission launch a public consultation to seek stakeholders' views on possible measures to mitigate fluctuations in the financial system by introducing counter-cyclical capital buffers for banks. Counter-cyclical capital buffers are variable capital reserves that banks would have to accumulate during economically good times. Banks could draw upon these reserves to continue lending and borrowing when economic conditions worsen. A regime for countercyclical capital buffers could also help to moderate the build up of excessive levels of credit in the financial system by raising the cost of credit, and so dampening demand, where there is evidence that levels are growing above established benchmarks.

The participation period to this consultation is now over.

Received contributions will be published on the Internet. It is important to read the specific privacy statement attached to this consultation for information on how your personal data and contribution will be dealt with.

• Press release
• Consultation document(44 KB)  

• Regulatory Capital