BIS central bankers’ speeches  5  Given the importance of addressing the risks stemming from systemically important financial institutions, it is necessary for regulators to reduce and if possible eliminate the prospect that a systemically important financial institution would find itself in difficulties in the first place. This consideration also brings up the need of supervising better shadow banking,5 which consists of those parts of the financial system that are not visible to regulators and hence not under their direct control and supervision.6 Basle III goes a significant way in narrowing the gaps in regulation that result from recourse to shadow banking.7 It does so by incorporating off-balance sheet exposures in the leverage ratio and by including in the liquidity, regulatory and supervisory standards a range of risks stemming from shadow banking. Thus, stronger banking regulation and supervision will go a long way towards containing the risks of the shadow banking sector. The situation in Malta I will now take a closer look at some key issues relating to the domestic economy and financial system, particularly the fiscal situation, international competitiveness and financial stability. The outlook for the fiscal situation calls for continued vigilance and caution. Official projections of the deficit ratio for 2012 and 2013 have been revised downward, remaining below the Maastricht threshold of 3%. However debt forecasts have been generally revised moderately upward, to levels projected above the 70% level in 2012 and 2013.
Jean-Pierre Roth: The euro – a stabilising factor in the international currency system Summary of a speech by Mr Jean-Pierre Roth, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements, at the Fondation Jean Monnet pour l'Europe, Lausanne, 21 September 2007. The complete speech can be found in French on the Swiss National Bank’s website (www.snb.ch). *  *  *  The euro is undoubtedly a success story. It has contributed to stabilising the international currency system. In Europe, the former monetary disorder has been replaced by a new monetary order. The European payment system has become more transparent and price stability is guaranteed. Switzerland, too, is benefiting from European currency stability. The Swiss franc is taking advantage of a monetary environment that is considerably calmer than previously. The euro and the franc are coexisting very successfully. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to claim that all the effects of European currency integration have already worked their way through to the real economy. In spurring on competition and promoting transparency, the euro is having an integrating effect. However, there are still considerable obstacles standing in the way of this integration process. BIS Review 103/2007  1