Bolkestein komt met nieuwe richtlijnen boekhouding om herhaling Parmalat te voorkomen (en)

Internal market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said yesterday that there are lessons to be learnt from the Parmalat scandal, as EU ministers discussed the possible implications for the EU economy.

Mr Bolkestein said that the Commission would improve proposals on EU auditing practices and corporate governance first put forward last May, but stressed that "hasty and ill considered legislation" should be avoided.

He also said that in light of the Parmalat case, it is imperative that EU states implement swiftly new rules due to be implemented later on this year.

The Italian food giant Parmalat, was declared insolvent last month after millions of euros in assets that the company claimed to have in reserve did not in fact exist.

Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti is due to present at the G7 meeting in February in Florida a proposal to increase the transparency of companies that have subsidiaries abroad in so-called financial paradises.

"I will make a proposal to the G7 for global vigilance", he said.