• 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.

Esta tercera edición de Gu�a Rápida IFRS considera los cambios y nueva normativa que se han incorporado a las NIIF durante 2004, constituye una excelente herramienta que le servirá para conocer y comprender las NIIF, facilitar su implantación y saber cómo se están aplicando estas normas de información en todo el mundo.

• Australia
• China
• Hong Kong

• New Zealand
• Malaysia
• Philippines

• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand

The IASC Foundation has a vital role to play in achieving the goal of one set of high-quality global accounting standards. In protecting the independence of the International Accounting Standards Board, while ensuring its public accountability, it must balance the legitimate demands of constituents for access and responsiveness against the Board's need to develop high-quality accounting standards that serve the interests of those making economic decisions in an atmosphere that is free of political interference. However, the IASC Foundation must also work to achieve greater accountability and transparency in its own affairs, especially in the oversight of the IASB and its sub-groups (including the appointment, assessment and reappointment of Board Members) as well as the appointment and reappointment of the Trustees. We are disappointed that the proposals in the Invitation to Comment make such modest proposals for change and have not responded to many of the comments made by us in our comment letter of 11 February 2004 and our written evidence before the Trustees' Constitution Committee submitted on 20 May 2004, as well as by other respondents.