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		News 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 EU short selling rules - Thursday, 2nd September 2010 The European Commission's draft proposals on short selling regulation (EU drafts new short selling rules, 2 September) are the product of a careful consultation exercise with Member State regulators and market actors. Although there are still serious issues to be worked out - the proper definition of naked short selling, and role of the new securities watch dog ESMA just to name a few - the draft provides a good basis for debate in the European Parliament and the Council. New regulations for tyre labelling - Monday, 10th August 2010 Like many readers I am concerned about the transfer of more powers to Europe. However, one thing that the European Union should do is reassure citizens that they are buying products which meet certain standards. Good labelling can help consumers, wherever they travel in Europe. Bus services are not airlines - Thursday, 15th July 2010 The European Parliament recently voted for local and regional bus services to apply the same passenger compensation rules as major airlines. Labour supporters of the plans fail to recognise that airlines are different from local bus services, and so do not need regulation from Europe. Road haulage industry - Thursday, 1st July 2010 Self employed lorry drivers will now face more restrictions thanks to a vote in the European Parliament to further limit their ability to work a few extra hours to help support their family at home. EU Democracy - Tuesday, 29th June 2010 The Lisbon Constitutional Treaty was supposed to make the European Union more democratic by giving more say to elected Members of the European Parliament. Two recent votes suggest that MEPs are not making best use of these new powers. European Consumer Centre for Services - Friday, 18th June 2010 As the world becomes more interconnected, more and more of us are buying goods and services from abroad. It is easy to find yourself unsure about the organisation you are buying from, so it is of the utmost importance that consumers receive as much information as possible before making purchasing decisions. London MEP calls for Brussels to "back off" British football clubs - Tuesday, 8th June 2010 London MEP Syed Kamall has called on Brussels to "back off" from regulating the ownership of football clubs. His call comes in response to the news that the European Commission is drawing up plans to forbid football clubs from having a deficit of over 45 Million Euros. Those with deficits less than this number would be encouraged to submit plans to break even over a limited number of years. If clubs do not fulfill this requirement they could be left out of European competitions all together. Protectionist proposals for hedge funds directive - Tuesday, 18th May 2010 An alliance of the Communist, Green, Socialist and EPP groups in the parliament supported amendments to create a heavily protectionist Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) directive, which will make it extremely difficult for EU investors to invest in non-EU funds, Syed Kamall MEP, European Conservatives and Reformists group shadow on the directive, warned today. Conservatives hold back the tide of Brussels regulations - Wednesday, 2nd May 2010 Last month in Brussels Tory MEPs voted to defeat a Spanish plan to re-impose the EU's ban on wonky fruit and veg. This is an example of how the Conservatives are achieving some successes in holding back the tide of ever more regulations from Brussels. Hedge funds postponement in Council of Ministers welcomed - Tuesday, 16th March 2010 Commenting on the decision to postpone the consideration of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive at the Council of Ministers today, Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London who is Shadow rapporteur on the directive in the parliament said: Commenting on the decision to postpone the consideration of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive at the Council of Ministers today, Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London who is Shadow rapporteur on the directive in the parliament said: Return of the bendy banana rules - Thursday, 4th March 2010 Spanish Members of the European Parliament are trying to get wonky fruit and veg banned again. This could spell misery for farmers whose produce may not fare well at a beauty pageant, but whose quality and flavour are enjoyed and savoured by millions. Michel Barnier: the most dangerous man in Europe? - Sunday, 28th February 2010 The newly-appointed European Commissioner responsible for cleaning up Europe's financial services sector took up his job just three weeks ago. When Michel Barnier's appointment was announced, he faced criticism, the main beef appearing to be that the former French minister was more likely to side with President Nicolas Sarkozy than he was with the leaders of London's under-pressure finance sector. The Frenchman was a threat. There must be a partnership of trust between the public and police - Monday, 8th February 2010 In seeking to use Section 44 of the Terrorism Act to search innocent citizens in public ("Unlawful anti-terror powers planned for use at 2012 Games", Feb 8), the government forgets that often vigilance by the public is a useful tool in stopping future attacks. After all, it was vigilance that stopped Umar Abdulmutallab from blowing up an aeroplane on Christmas day last year. EU Wills and Succession proposals - Monday, 8th February 2010 The EU is currently proposing a law which enables others to annul our lifetime decisions after we are gone. Under the Wills and Succession proposals, if you make a gift during your lifetime, this gift could be clawed back into your estate after your death, and then doled out as inheritance to someone else. The European Progress Microfinance Facility - Thursday, 7th January 2010 The European Parliament recently voted to make it easier for people to obtain small loans so they can start up their own businesses or make existing ones grow. Bankers' bonus tax hits first hurdle - Wednesday, 6th January 2010 Franco-British plans to introduce a one-off supertax on bankers' bonuses hit a snag when the asset management sector won exemption from a draft UK law after threatening to leave the country. A related European law could face similar difficulties. “Goldman exodus talk a wake-up call over bonus tax” - Boris Johnson - Tuesday, 5th January 2010 Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has suggested that he is deeply troubled that Goldman Sachs is considering moving parts of its business out of Britain following the Government's 50pc tax on bonuses.