Where to put Europe’s bank regulator? Try Bulgaria 26 May 2017 Brussels has invited member states to bid to host the European Banking Authority when its current host, Britain, quits the EU. The EBA hasn’t exactly dazzled in its handling of bank stress tests. But it could be a decent trophy for a non-euro country that feels unloved by the bloc.
Croatia takes EU bank political risk to new level 21 Sep 2015 The EU’s newest member has voted to hit lenders with the cost of switching citizens’ Swiss franc-denominated loans to euros. That’s tougher than similar Hungarian and Polish conversions, and the legal and social grounds are weak. As the ECB has warned, foreign investors may flee.
Croatia makes awkward EU entry 1 Jul 2013 Zagreb joins Brussels at an unfortunate time. Its economy is struggling and its democracy needs improving. The hope is that Croatia takes accession as an incentive to reform, bringing political stability to the troubled Western Balkan region. The risk is that it doesn’t.