This is an essential step towards their possible end later; a step that is justified by our confidence in the gradual convergence of inflation towards our target of 2% over the medium term: we consider the economic recovery in Europe to be “increasingly robust and broad-based". In parallel, we said that we will continue to ensure “ample” monetary support, rather than “very substantial” support as mentioned in our previous statements – thanks to the whole range of our instruments, including the sizeable stock of assets that we will continue to hold in line with our policy of reinvestment, and our forward guidance on interest rates. In this new paragraph, the Governing Council stresses an essential point that I have often referred to over these past few weeks: our non-standard monetary policy is not a solo – it is not simply about net monthly purchases, and we shouldn’t focus too much on them –; it is a group of instruments that we can play, by following a predictable sequence, as part of our gradual normalisation strategy. It is therefore important that insurers continue to adapt their business models to the low interest rate environment. In particular, I welcome the gradual moderation of interest rates paid out on life insurance contracts, which should be pursued in order to maintain, in the long run, insurers’ solvency and their ability to meet all their commitments vis-à-vis policyholders.
During time, the banking sector has increased the number of branches, has improved its products to the public and has increased its intermediating role to provide an important contribution in the economic development of the country. At the same time, the entrance of well-know European banking groups from Austria, Greece, Italy and France, has been associated with consolidation in the banking industry. As it is the case in the entire region, the banking sector dominates the financial sector in our country. Our supervisory work aims at adopting the best international standards in the field. As a result, our legal and regulatory framework is considered to be consistent in achieving our objective of a stable and sound development of the banking activity, and is continuously improved. From the practical aspect, we combine both regulatory and risk based supervision. BIS Review 43/2009  1  The data reported from the banking sector are analyzed off-site and verified on-site. We also try to stay in close contacts and cooperate with foreign supervisory authorities, as an important instrument in improving the effectiveness of the supervisory work. Nowadays, the assets of the banking sector represent around 87 percent of the country’s GDP. Loan portfolio has reached around 37 percent of GDP. Due to increasing competition after the privatization, its growth has been very strong in the last 4 years, albeit starting from a low base. Deposits represent around 80 percent of the banking sector liabilities, and the loan/deposit ratio stood at around 62 percent.