European Commission

The Investment Management Association (IMA) urges the European Commission to create a more level playing field at EU level between different savings products.

The European Parliament's committee of inquiry into the Equitable Life crisis has slammed UK regulators, including the FSA and the Government, for not moving fast enough to prevent the company's collapse.

The European Commission believes there is insufficient evidence to remove the existing professional indemnity insurance requirements, but says it will "continue to monitor the situation".

If it's Tuesday, then it must be Brussels. "Lifestyles of the rich and shameless," as one industry colleague said to me on hearing that I would be in the seat of European power the next day.

The European Commission has decided to pursue infringement procedures against 11 Member States, including the United Kingdom, for failure to implement in national law the directive on occupational pensions.

Equity release has been removed from the modified Consumer Credit Directive (CCD) Proposal, issued by the European Commission.

Investment firms will have to keep records of their dealing with clients for a period of five years under draft proposals from the European Commission as part of MiFID.

The European Commission has published its proposals for the implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) which it expects to be adopted during summer 2006.

The Financial Services Authority says it is delaying changes to the FSA Handbook on Training and Competence and the Approved Persons regime as a proposed EU directive could affect regulatory rules.

Members of the European Parliament have today voted to set up a committee to investigate the actions of both government and regulators in respect of the troubles at Equitable Life.