Work of telecoms charity highlighted
Posted,1/12/2012 10:00:00 AM
Dramatic photographs from disaster and war zones across the globe went on display this week at the European Parliament - but the scenes were of hope and progress thanks to a telecommunications charity. The exhibition, Communications for Life, depicts the work of Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) and its launch in Brussels was hosted by supporter Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London. He spoke of the charity's excellent work in setting up digital networks in disaster-stricken areas. TSF supports communication networks for rescue teams and emergency aid programmes and also allows people caught up in the devastation to contact loved ones. The charity has worked on the ground in Chile, Libya, Thailand, Haiti, Pakistan, El Salvador and Turkey. Mr Kamall said that in times of uncertainty, stress and lack of information, the provision of telecoms services was a vital part of relief work. "TSF facilitates the work of the other NGOs that go in...but they also then stay behind to put a proper communications infrastructure in place, often in very remote and vulnerable areas," he said. You can see some of the photographs here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73701065@N07/sets/72157628747272113
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EU audit proposals must not undermine audit quality
Posted,11/30/2011 1:00:00 PM
As the European Commission today publishes proposals to reform the audit market in the EU today, the parliament's rapporteur (lead member) on them has said that he wants to ensure that competition is working in the auditing sector, but warns that the EU must think through any unintended consequences from its actions if it over regulates. Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London, has said that he will approach the process with an 'open mind' and if investors and audit clients identify problems in the auditing sector, he will aim to address them. However, he says that he wants to hear from companies and investors on whether the auditing sector is broken and if they believe that the 'Big 4' auditing firms should be subjected to "artificially imposed" competition via structural changes. He said: "I am starting this process with an open mind. There may be a case for tackling the dominance of the Big 4 and finding ways to improve auditing quality but I want to hear from investors and companies whether they believe that the current auditing system is broken. After all, the last directive dealing with audit has yet to be fully implemented in many member states. "There could be significant unintended consequences if we legislate more than absolutely necessary. "I'm also not sure that dealing with the dominance of the Big 4 audit firms in this context is the right approach. The OFT has just referred the Big 4 to the Competition Commission in the UK, making clear that competition issues should be dealt with by competition authorities. I would have expected perceived competition issues to have been dealt with by the competition directorate rather than the busy internal market directorate. "If there are genuine problems in the audit market then we should find genuine solutions for them. However, we should avoid imposing "knee jerk" solutions or forced competition which ultimately could make the auditing market weaker."
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Auditing in Europe must not become a box-ticking exercise
Posted,5/24/2011 12:00:00 AM
Brussels, 24th May 2011 -- The European Parliament's legal affairs committee has today adopted a green paper on auditing policy which is much more balanced than what was on the table just a week ago, Syed Kamall MEP, Conservative shadow lead member on the negotiations, said today.
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Short selling and Credit Default Swaps deal among finance ministers
Posted,5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM
Brussels, 17th May 2011 -- The position agreed on short selling and credit default swaps proposals by EU finance ministers today is not nearly as damaging as the European Parliament's position which would harm EU sovereign debt markets and London's financial services, Syed Kamall MEP, Conservative shadow lead member on the negotiations, said today.
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EU short-selling rules will damage investment in Europe
Posted,3/8/2011 12:00:00 AM
Strasbourg, 8th March 2011 -- Measures adopted by the European Parliament to crack down on sovereign debt "speculation" and "naked" short-selling will threaten investment in projects across the EU, Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London, warned today.
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