11.13 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Mandelson seeks stronger EU steps on banking reform

Peter Mandelson's memoirs are out this week (SUPPLIED).

Published
By AFP

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson attacked the European Union yesterday for failing to provide stronger international leadership on banking reform after the financial crisis.

"I think that both the European Council and the European Commission have to play a much stronger leadership role," Mandelson, regarded as Prime Minister Gordon Brown's de facto number two, told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"Heads of government need to set the direction and pace and the commission needs to be a much more active implementing body than perhaps we've seen in recent months."

The former EU trade commissioner deplored a "failure in the EU to show stronger leadership" on global banking regulation, adding: "European heads of government need to show more of a strategic lead to the EU as a whole."

Mandelson also said there was a "surprising lack of internationalism displayed by the US administration" on banking reform, after President Barack Obama proposed a tough package for banks in the US last month.

"Above all, governments need to speak in an internationally joined up way," he told the newspaper.

 

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.