Brussels, 11/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the Allied Irish Banks in London on 7 February, European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy strongly reiterated his opposition to any European intervention with a view to regulating private equity funds. “This time 15 months ago, I nearly had to go to an ear, nose and throat specialist for a check up because I feared my ear drums were getting bruised in Brussels by the army of pro-regulation junkies and lobbyists who wanted me to 'tackle' private equity, hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds for what they considered was the damage they could do to the European economy,” he said, going on, “I determinedly resisted this pressure. … Far from being the demons in the current market turmoil, many of these funds have, in fact, been the saviours”. Supporting the industry's adoption of voluntary codes of conduct, such as that of the industry in the UK, McCreevy said that the success of such an approach would depend on making the codes work in practice. He said that the EP would, in July, adopt a report on whether action is needed to monitor, and better understand, the opportunities and risks of the financial industry. (M.B.)