Brussels to reveal rating agency plans

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Series Details 2.6.10
Publication Date 02/06/2010
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As part of its work on preventing a future financial crisis and strengthening the financial system, the European Commission put forward on the 2 June 2010 amendments to the EU rules on Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) and launched a public consultation on reforming corporate governance in financial institutions.

Furthermore, in order to advance swiftly in completing the necessary reforms to ensure a safe and stable financial system in Europe, the Commission adopted a more general Communication where it commits itself to table the remaining financial reform proposals in the following six to nine months.

Following discussion and hopefully strong support from all heads of State and government at the European Council in June 2010, the Commission will present all these proposals - together with its recent ideas on bank resolution funds - at the G-20 Summit in Toronto on 26-27 June 2010.

On CRAs, the Commission has two main objectives: ensuring efficient and centralised supervision at European level, and increased transparency on the entities requesting the ratings so that all agencies have access to the same information. These changes would improve supervision, increase competition in the CRA market and improve investor protection.

On corporate governance, the Commission has launched a public consultation on a number of issues including how to manage risk more effectively in financial institutions and how to empower shareholders. The deadline for responses is 1 September 2010.

To complement this package of proposals, the Commission also published two reports on how Member States have put into practice the Commission's two Recommendations of 2009 on remuneration policies in the financial services sector and for directors of listed companies. In both cases, progress has been made but a significant number of Member States have yet to implement the Recommendations fully.

Related Links
ESO: Background information: European leaders hit at rating agencies http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-leaders-hit-at-rating-agencies/
EurActiv, 3.6.10: EU raises heat on rating agencies and managers http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-raises-heat-rating-agencies-m-news-494818
European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/656: Commission proposes improved EU supervision of Credit Rating Agencies and launches debate on corporate governance in financial institutions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/230&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
BBC News, 2.6.10: EU plans new financial regulator for rating agencies http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10215957.stm
Deutsche Welle, 2.6.10: European Commission plans reform of rating agency regulation http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5642278,00.html

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