Leaders of the European Union and the United States agreed to establish a high-level working group to boost job creation and economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic. They asked the Transatlantic Economic Council to establish a High-Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth, led by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. The Working Group will work closely with all private and public stakeholder groups as it considers options for strengthening transatlantic trade and...

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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its 2012 work program. The document highlights the key priorities and explains how they will be delivered. It has been approved by ESMA’s Management Board and Board of Supervisors. Annex 3 presents a more detailed view on the key work streams ESMA will run in 2012.

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The Joint Forum which was established in 1996 under the aegis of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) released a consultative paper on principles for the supervision of financial conglomerates. For more information, please click here. Click here for the final text of the Directive.

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The European Securities and Market Authority ESMA published its final report on guidelines on systems and controls in an automated trading environment for trading platforms, investment firms and competent authorities. In issuing these guidelines, ESMA rolls out a comprehensive regime governing the operation of electronic trading systems by a regulated market, a multilateral trading facility (MTF) or investment firms. The guidelines cover trading in an automated environment of any financial instruments, as defined in the Market in Financial Instruments...

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A MESSAGE FROM  AMBASSADOR JOÃO VALE DE ALMEIDA HEAD OF DELEGATION Delegation of the European Union to the United States Just over a year ago, the European Union launched the European External Action Service, the EU’s official diplomatic service. The timing could not have been more important. The large-scale challenges of the past year—particularly the transformative events of the Arab Spring—have required the kind of strong and coordinated EU response that the European External Action Service can provide. The international community has...

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At a summit in Brussels Monday, European Union leaders agreed to sign a treaty to enforce budget discipline in the eurozone and took several new steps designed to stimulate economic growth. The new treaty, known as the fiscal compact, sets strict rules for government budgets and imposes sanctions on countries that breach EU budget deficit limits. All EU Member States — except Britain and the Czech Republic — agreed to sign the treaty. "The Treaty is all about more responsibility and...

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"Entrepreneurs embody the promise of America: the idea that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard and see it through, you can succeed in this country. And in fulfilling this promise, entrepreneurs also play a critical role in expanding our economy and creating jobs." -President Barack Obama, January 31, 2011 Startup America is the White House initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. Startups are engines of job creation.  Entrepreneurs intent on...

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The New York Times: Off the Charts, By FLOYD NORRIS Americans are split almost down the middle on the issue of whether there is too much regulation of business or too little. Residents of most other countries are more likely to think more regulation is needed. But there is widespread agreement around the world on one point: the current level of regulation is not right. In surveys of 1,000 people in each of 25 countries late last year, Edelman, a public...

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The start-up Qwanz.com - a thriving opinion gathering platform who is launching a French and Spanish version of the site, as well as a Mobile App is currently seeking Social Media Editing + Community Management Interns (with potential to convert to full time position): https://www.internships.com/posting/Social-Media-Editor-Community-Manager

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Planned U.S. Rule on Banks' Bets Is Seen as Threat to Worsen Debt Crisis Wall Street Journal: By FRANCESCO GUERRERA,TRACY CORRIGAN and SIMON NIXON DAVOS, Switzerland—The European Commission will complain to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that proposed U.S. regulations could discourage banks from trading European sovereign bonds, potentially increasing funding costs for the Continent's governments and worsening its credit crunch. Michel Barnier, the European commissioner for the internal market, said in an interview that he plans to raise objections with Mr. Geithner...

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