Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, interviewed by Dutch radio on Saturday, said excuses given by Europe’s banks for not lending were wrong. In brief:
- “The capital that banks need to raise so they can withstand losses doesn’t mean that you can lend less money. That’s a recurring argument from the banking world which is in fact not correct”
- “They must have a stronger balance sheet if they take more risk on onto their balance sheet. That doesn’t mean they have to lend less.”
