Second, they have built on that to create seed capital funds across the country aimed specifically at trying to get commercialization funds into the hands of entrepreneurs at the stage immediately after research and before commercialization.

An increase in investment and/or reduction in their overall savings could be beneficial for Germany and other surplus countries like the Netherlands, without impairing their competitiveness, all the more so as surplus countries tend to have investment-to-GDP ratios lower than the EU average.

21. WELCOMES the publication of the Commission’s analysis of large sustained current account surpluses and of the main driving forces. In this context, STRESSES the important financial and trade inter-linkages between deficit and surpluses within the euro area, and the importance of appropriate financial supervision to overcome financial market fragmentation and ensuring an adequate allocation of savings, RECALLS that unlike current account deficits, large and sustained current account surpluses do not raise concerns about the sustainability of external debt or financing capacity that affect the smooth functioning of the euro area; the ...[+++]risks of negative spill-overs for current account surpluses are therefore less pressing than for current account deficits. While it is particularly urgent for deficit countries to continuing current efforts addressing their competitiveness challenges, UNDERLINES that addressing market failures and structural reform needs, and wages growing in line with productivity in surplus countries would contribute to rebalancing within the euro area. In particular, measures aimed at improving the functioning of specific sectors, such as services, financial intermediation and other non-tradables could be considered. Finally, EMPHASISES the need to preserve the competitiveness of the EU economies vis-à-vis the rest of the world.

In order not to impair the efficiency of payment systems, and in order to balance the risk of driving transactions underground as a result of overly strict identification requirements against the potential terrorist threat posed by small transfers of funds, the obligation to check whether information on the payer or the payee is accurate should, in the case of transfers of funds where verification has not yet taken place, be imposed only in respect of individual transfers of funds that exceed EUR 1 000, unless the transfer appears to be linked to other transfers of funds which together would exceed EUR 1 000, the funds have been received ...[+++] or paid out in cash or in anonymous electronic money, or where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting money laundering or terrorist financing.

The general concurrence is that amount would be about $1.5 billion. CN currently has $300 million to $400 million on hand through recent company sales such as CN Exploration, and excess capital reserves.

Mr. MacIntosh: Presumably it is there because the OECD is a group of wealthier countries that export capital to other countries in the world, and what the provision basically is saying is: If you treat one of these other countries in a more favourable fashion that is exporting capital into your country, we wish to be treated like them because we also export capital to you.