International Banking Regulation: the Basel Accords and EU implementation of Basel III

Abstract

This paper analyzes the key role banks have in the financial system, as well as the importance of international banking regulation in a globalized economy. The latter task has been performed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision for several years, representing the will of the broader international community. The three Basel Accords appear as the crystallization of a number of regulatory international dealings, each of them presenting some innovations, which will be also examined. In particular, the latest Basel Accord cannot be understood without knowing the context of the last financial crisis. Moreover, there will be a special focus on Basel III and its implementation path within the European Union, which can lead to a result that remains uncertain.