21/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Bâle Committee, which is made up of the central banks and supervisory authorities of the main financial powers, has specified the areas of prudential banking regulations requiring a turn of the screw, further to shortcomings in existing rules noted since the financial crisis. Amongst other things, it proposes an extension of requirements in terms of own funds to complex financial products off-balance-sheet and to raise ratios for asset-backed commercial papers. Called upon to reinforce their internal risk management, the banks must, amongst other things, improve their assessment tests for liquidity risks in situations of stress on the markets and improve their identification of risks associated with off-balance-sheet financial products. The European Commission is currently and until mid-June involved in a revision of the so-called Bâle II” directives (2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC) (M.B.)