No-one contests the need to address the high cost of and the corresponding difficulty of having access to cross-border clearing and settlement in the EU. We have not yet reached any definitive view on the precise measures we would propose to remedy this situation. It is clear, though, that the present system is untenable. Changes are going to have to be made. We believe the industry recognizes this as well and we would encourage them to be a part of the solution and not the problem.

Charlie McCreevy