The EC has adopted proposals for a directive and a regulation aimed at modernising and simplifying the VAT rules for financial and insurance services. The proposals contain an updated definition of the exempt financial and insurance services. 


Read More Value Added Tax (VAT): The European Commission (EC) proposals to modernise the current legislation for financial services and insurance

Earlier this month, President Bush announced a voluntary five-year interest rate freeze plan for subprime borrowers facing large increases in their monthly mortgage payments due to rate resets. 


Read More Government Moves to Prevent Foreclosures and Other Fallout from the Subprime Meltdown

In December 2007, the London office of EAPD held an industry workshop to provide a forum for discussion of the European Commission’s Final Report into Business Insurance. The report sets out the findings of the EC’s sector commission inquiry into business insurance which was initiated in June 2005. 


Read More EAPD London workshop discusses the impact of the European Commission’s Final Report into Business Insurance

In order to help prepare the ground for the development of implementing measures once the Solvency II proposal has been adopted, the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions (CEIOPS) will run a fourth quantitative impact study between April and July 2008. 


Read More Solvency II: Quantitative Impact Study (QIS) 4 public hearing

On 10 December 2007, the FSA announced a further programme of work to consider possible inefficiencies in the commercial general insurance market before taking a decision on whether to mandate commission disclosure. 


Read More Financial Services Authority (FSA) programme: Commission disclosure in the commercial general insurance market

On December 5, 2007, H.R. 1759:  Managing Arson Through Criminal History (“MATCH”) Act of 2007 passed in the House of Representatives by voice vote and is now in the Senate.  MATCH would establish guidelines and incentives for U.S. states and territories to establish arsonist registries and require the United States Attorney General (“AG”) to establish a national arsonist registry and notification program. 


Read More Legislation Proposes Arsonist Registry