Brussels, 25/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, says that Germany will be hosting an international conference on financial regulation in May, to be attended by the G20 nations' finance ministers, central bankers and financial experts. Quizzed by local media about recent suggestions for regulating the banks put forward by US President Barack Obama, Schäuble said he was delighted at the change of mindset underway on the other side of the Atlantic, which made it more likely that an international solution would be found to the problem. The May conference in Germany will prepare for the G20 summit in Toronto, Canada, in June and the German minister said the May conference would provide an opportunity for Europe to put forward proposals. Going further than the G20, Obama has announced the introduction of a tax on banking and is planning to deal with the very structure of banking by limiting assets and banning retail banks from speculating and owning hedge funds. (M.B./transl.fl)