Brussels, 21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Some 20 MEPs from 9 member states and 5 EP political parties (EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL) have issued a statement criticising lack of balance in the financial world with the scales weighted in favour of finance industry lobbyists and a lack of independent advice to counter this from civil society. Describing this imbalance as jeopardising the quality of democracy and law-making, they argue that such imbalances are not found in environmental or social affairs. Criticising the proximity of the political and financial elites, they say this situation means that the finance industries' views are accepted without any second opinions and hinders politicians' ability to make wholly independent decisions. The MEPs urge NGOs, trade unions, academia and thinktanks to set up one or more NGO capable of developing independent expertise about what goes on in the financial markets. The MEPs signing the statement do not agree among themselves on the measures to be taken but want there to be a high-quality, balanced debate, explained the man behind the initiative, French MEP Pascal Canfin (Greens/EFA, France) in a press release. See: http://www.finance-watch.org (M.B./transl.fl)