Brussels, 05/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - “Tomorrow, the Parliament is expected to adopt amendments on the directive relating to own fund demands for banks which include, among other elements, the obligation to retain 5% of securities”, said the European commissioner for the internal market, Charlie McCreevy, on Tuesday 5 May after the Ecofin Council. Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek also hoped review of the Basel II directive would be a success after the fashion of the four legislative dossiers in the field of financial services, including the Solvency II directive for insurance and the regulation on rating agencies (see EUROPE 9887). EP approval for first reading adoption of the Basel II directive depends upon the attitude of certain German members of the EPP-ED, who are tempted to give way to the request by the Socialist Group to raise the threshold for banks for retaining securities in their balance sheet to 15% (see EUROPE 9893). (M.B./transl.jl)