Press Release: Commission launches public consultation on hedge funds

The European Commission launched a wide-ranging public consultation on policy issues arising from the activities of the hedge fund industry, in view of developing an appropriate regulatory initiative. A significant part of global hedge fund assets are managed and administered in Europe. This consultation will make an important contribution to European and international reflections on whether the approach to the regulation and supervision of hedge funds should be reassessed in light of the financial crisis. The results of the consultation will be discussed at a high-level conference in Brussels in late February 2009, and will serve as the basis for European input into the parallel reflections on hedge funds at international level by the G20.