Standards must not be undermined by a myriad of interpretations leading to a rules-based system. I very clearly see that the important players, such as the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), CESR, and the national standard setters, have to ensure that this does not happen. And we need to consider how the links between a strengthened EFRAG and the IASB can be better defined.

Since the beginning of this year, two major sets of standards are being applied globally: US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards, which are being applied by listed European companies since the beginning of this year. We have to find a way to free businesses which are active on both sides of the Atlantic from the costly requirement to publish their accounts according to both sets of rules and then having to square them up.

Up to now, US companies listed in Europe were able to publish their accounts in US GAAP. Under our new Prospectus and Transparency Directives, we must come to a decision about the equivalence of US GAAP to allow them to continue to publish their accounts in US GAAP. The Commission will base its decision on a technical report by the Committee of European Securities Regulators due in the summer.

But this is not a one-way street – it is only reasonable for European companies to expect that US regulators will make similar efforts to judge the equivalence of our international standards with US GAAP, and once this is done, to release companies from the costly burdens of converting standards. We intend to work closely with the SEC and standard setters to find a mutually acceptable road map through this problem.