European Parliament
President.
Question No 29 by Othmar Karas 
Subject: Study on the consequences of Basel II for small- and medium-sized enterprises
At the Barcelona European Council in March 2002, the Commission was requested to carry out a study on the consequences of Basel II for small- and medium-sized enterprises. Because of problems with the invitation to tender, there were delays last year. The Commission gave an assurance in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs that the results would be submitted by the end of 2003. The results have still not been made known (March 2004).
Why have the results of the SME study not yet been officially made known? Have they already been submitted to the Commission? If so, why is the Commission holding off publication? What are the results? When will the proposal for a directive on Basel II be submitted? What are the critical issues on which there is still no agreement on the Basel Committee?

