Brussels, 16/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Frits Bolkestein, European Commissioner responsible for the internal market, is off to the United States on 22 May for talks with representatives of the Administration and industry on the issues of the liberalisation of financial services and information exchange regarding tax on savings. He will plead in favour of the lifting of barriers facing many Europeans wanting to offer financial services, the goal being to create, as soon as possible, a transatlantic market of 700 million consumers. Aware of the "strong reservation" on the part of the Americans to the adoption of International Accountancy Standards (IAS), he will try to have his interlocutors admit that these standards are just as valid as theirs, "which would help convergence". Mr. Bolkestein will also plead in favour of the establishment of information exchange on tax on savings: it is important that Washington shows the example to certain European countries like Switzerland that are reluctant to conclude agreements with the EU, is what he told the press on Thursday.