During the debate titled “Deposit Guarantees and Early Intervention Measures” during a plenary session of the European Parliament, PiS MEP Marlena Maląg emphasized the importance of customer-focused financial regulations and the role of small banks in building the stability of the European financial system.
“Is it possible to develop good regulations? It turns out that it is—especially when people are at the center: the customers of small banks, often from small towns. In Poland, this is a cooperative bank, where customers are known by name, not just by their account number,” the MEP noted.
Marlena Maląg highlighted significant changes introduced under the CMDI (Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance), such as Interinstitutional Protection Schemes, the DGS Bridge mechanism (Deposit Guarantee Scheme Bridge, i.e., temporary support for banks to protect customer deposits), and the expansion of the Public Interest Criterion (a regulatory criterion that takes into account the well-being of the local community, not just the stability of the system).
“This is a great job well done! The adopted solutions are friendly to smaller banks and protect the well-being of local communities. The public interest isn’t just about system stability; it’s also about the well-being of residents in small towns,” she emphasized.
The MEP drew attention to the problem of excessive regulatory requirements for small banks, which limit competition and local presence.
“Small banks are the foundation of the European financial ecosystem. Today, they must meet the same requirements as the largest institutions, which stifles competition. Without competition, customers lose out, especially borrowers. We need simpler rules for small banks and true equality in the market,” she said.
At the conclusion of her speech, Marlena Maląg called for recognition of the local dimension of the European financial economy. “Let’s build a strong Europe through its local character!” she concluded.
