Third, to increase our prudence towards the financial system stability, we adopted new techniques for a more comprehensive systemic risk assessment, enriched stress test exercises with the “bottom up” approach and improved models for the indirect credit risk assessment. The twinning project concentrated most of its resources on supervision and financial stability. In addition to constant motivation for improving the regulatory framework, supervision activities and risk administration, this priority becomes even more necessary given added challenges related to specific developments over the past years. The Bank of Albania has undertaken a number of actions to face and overcome these challenges. For the fourth consecutive year, the Albanian economy has been under the influence of the global economic and financial crisis. Its latest stage, the sovereign debt crisis and its interrelation with the balance sheets of the financial system have placed us on the frontline. Our two main trading and financial partner countries, Greece and Italy, have been severely hit by the crisis. Against this unfavourable landscape, the Albanian economy has grown and has maintained its financial soundness. Private agents have an overall sound financial position, relatively low debt levels and positive savings rates. In contrast to other countries in the region, the Albanian financial system has continued to lend to the economy, although at slower pace and somewhat tighter terms. Building on an appropriate and flexible regulatory framework, this response has been determinant to encourage the restructuring of the economy and guide it towards profitable sectors.
On the part of the ECB, I can assure you that we stand ready to support the ESRB, in particular taking into account the important presence of the members of the General Council of the ECB in the ESRB and the fact that the ECB will provide the secretariat and analytical, statistical, logistical and administrative support to the ESRB, as required under the legislative proposals. Preparatory work at the ECB has been organised through the setting up of an ad hoc team and is under way so that the ESRB can take up its work after its formal establishment. The ECB is in the process of enhancing its capabilities for monitoring and assessing financial stability risks. Only a number of weeks ago, we reformed our Directorate Financial Stability and Supervision into a Directorate General Financial Stability with more resources. In all this, we also try to draw as much as possible on synergies with existing work and resources, both within the ECB and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), the constellation of the 27 national central banks of the European Union. I would now turn to the panel and ask our guests to share with us their observations. BIS Review 47/2010  3