A qualified majority of EU delegations are in favour of a provisional compromise text with regard to the proposals to amend the EU's rules on capital requirements for banks and investment firms. Besides revising the existing capital requirement directives, the proposals divide them into two new legislative instruments.

The Council debated on a extraordinary meeting celebrated on the 2 of May, the proposals to amend the EU's rules on capital requirements for banks and investment firms, the so-called "CRD 4" package presented by the Commission in 2008. They are aimed at transposing into EU law an international agreement approved by the G-20 in November 2010.

The Danish Presidency of the Council reported the support of a qualified majority in favour of a provisional compromise text. Ministers therefore decided to review the dossier on 15 May, subsequent to a technical verification, with a view to confirming its agreement on the overall package. Then, it will start a negotiation with the European Parliament aimed at adoption of the texts at first reading.

The CRD 4 package sets out to amend and replace the existing capital requirement directives and divide them into two new legislative instruments: a regulation establishing prudential requirements that institutions need to respect and a directive governing access to deposit-taking activities.