Chairman Donaldson reaffirmed his support for the convergence program being undertaken jointly by the International Accounting Standards Board and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board. Chairman Donaldson also discussed with Commissioner McCreevy a 'roadmap' developed by SEC staff that highlights the steps needed to eliminate the US GAAP reconciliation requirement for foreign private issuers that use International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRSs. The roadmap establishes a goal of eliminating the requirement as early as possible between now and 2009 at the latest.

In the pages that follow I explain why I believe the movement towards use of a single set of globally accepted accounting standards is good for the global capital markets, and for investors and creditors (collectively, investors). I also discuss what I believe this movement means for the US capital markets and, in response to a question I am frequently asked, I attempt to set out a possible roadmap to elimination of the SEC's requirement that foreign private issuers reconcile financial statements prepared under IFRSs to US GAAP. Further, I describe factors that I believe can contribute to successful implementation and to increasingly widespread acceptance and use of IFRSs, or which, if not addressed, could impede progress. Lastly, I express my view that to maximize the benefits from a common set of accounting standards – IFRSs – the many involved parties need to work together on interpretive matters that arise in applying it.

I very much welcome the constructive approach the SEC is taking to moving these critical issues forward. We will work closely together to promote the closer alignment of IFRS and US GAAP and towards the elimination of US GAAP reconciliation requirements for foreign private issuers. These are major steps towards high-quality global accounting standards, which the European Union strongly supports. Clearly there is much to do all round, but the bandwagon has now started. International accounting standard setters, preparers, issuers, auditors and regulators must now accelerate their efforts to seize this unique opportunity. They must set clear goals and deliver the necessary convergence, consistency and enforcement required. I will be pressing all concerned in Europe to play their part.