The issue of "proportionality in banking regulation" is being discussed increasingly between practitioners, academics and many regulators. To support these discussions and with a view to the upcoming implementation of the finalization of Basel III in the European Union, which requires a significantly higher degree of proportionality than previously required, the BVR together with cooperative associations from the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Spain, Poland and Luxembourg drafted a position paper. In addition to findings from groundbreaking studies in Europe, international developments and findings are also considered. The paper concludes that greater proportionality in the area of regulation is possible, necessary and appropriate.