EU wants more coordination of recapitalizing banks

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso stressed on Thursday that coordination is essential in the process of recapitalizing European banks . "Recapitalization efforts are well underway and additional efforts may be needed, " Barroso told a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, stressing "coordination is essential". "We are determined to do everything necessary to ensure that European banks are able to play their essential role of lending to citizens and businesses, " the president said. He cited Finland as a good example which has turned a banking crisis into opportunity, saying "I believe we will succeed". Barroso said earlier in the day during an interview with Youtube that the European Commission is proposing to the member states to have a coordinated action to recapitalize banks, so to get rid of toxic assets they may have. Barroso made the remarks after Franco-Belgian bank Dexia became the first European lender to be dragged down by high exposure to Greek debts. It is feared that more banks will follow the suit of Dexia due to their high exposure to heavily indebted eurozone countries. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednsday urged the EU to swiftly recapitalize its banks to stabilize markets. IMF Europe director Antonio Borges estimated that the cost of recapitalizing European banks ranges from 100 billion to 200 billion euros. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a visit to Brussels on Wednsday that Germany is prepared to recapitalize banks, adding EU leaders may discuss a Europe-wide plan at their summit meeting in mid-October.