Commission launches public consultation on hedge funds

Today, the European Commission has launched a wide-ranging public consultation on hedge funds. It asks for views on problems such as systemic risks, market integrity and efficiency, risk management and transparency. The text of the consultation can be found here. This consultation must be seen in context with a resolution of the European Parliament of September 23, 2008, which has called for a tighter regulation of hedge funds and private equity. The resolution had been prepared by reports by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Klaus-Peter Lehne. It remains to be seen whether the activities of the Parliament and the Commission will result in a European hedge fund regulation.