23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Public consultation exercise. As announced by Commissioner Šemeta when unveiling the Commission's October 2010 report on taxation in the financial industry (of EUROPE 10231), the European Commission opened a public consultation exercise on 22 February to quiz interested parties (companies, regulators, employers, trade unions, charities and so on) about the ideas set out in the report and the impact and feasibility of the various options or potential problems foreseen. The comments and a detailed impact study will help the Commission draw up draft legislation on taxes in the financial industry, which the commissioner hopes to publish by the summer break this year. For further information, see: http: //ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/2011_02_financial_sector_taxation_fr.htm. (F.G./transl.fl)