IASCF Chairman Volcker's remarks to ARC

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26 Feb 2005

IASC Foundation Chairman Paul A.

Volcker spoke to the European Commission's Accounting Regulatory Committee about the Trustees' current Review of the Constitution under which the Foundation and the Board operate. Among the points that Mr. Volcker made:

  • The underlying reality in my view is that good progress is being made toward achieving a common set of respected accounting standards applicable in all significant markets. That is the grand prize that should not be lost.
  • The only way to do that is to achieve a high degree of confidence in the process by which the IASB reaches agreement on internally consistent, effective, realistic and, I hope, simpler standards.
  • In the constitution review, it has not been the Trustees' intent to revisit the entire debate five years ago about the organisation of the IASB and our Constitution. The central idea that emerged from that debate, and will remain, is to foster the independence of judgement of a highly professional, decision-making Board, appropriately protected from particular national or special interest pleading.
  • The IASCF proposals released in November directly addressed a large number of the concerns raised by various commentators, in particular those in Europe, including more Board consultation with representative groups, the process for agenda decisions, Board appointments, and Board voting requirements.
  • The decision of the European Union to enforce IFRSs by law provided bold and constructive leadership toward the concept of international, rather than national or regional, standards. It does not, however, logically lead to a decision to overweight European representation on the Board or the Trustees. The 'end game', after all, is the acceptability of international standards right around the world.
Click to download the IASC Foundation Press Release (PDF 45k) and the Text of Mr. Volcker's Remarks (PDF 21k).

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