Brussels, 02/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - “It is necessary to complement the introduction of a new solvency regime with a European solution for insurance guarantee schemes”, which cover all member states and all areas of life and non-life insurance, said Charlie McCreevy, speaking in Dublin at the end of June during a conference on the protection of retail investors organised by the Irish ombudsman. The European commissioner for the internal market said the Commission would adopt a White Paper on the matter which will take forward the necessary measures according to an appropriate timetable. He spoke of national disparities in national systems: - 14 operate one or, in some cases, more than one insurance guarantee scheme; - five countries have general schemes which cover both life insurance and non-life insurance; - four countries have a general scheme for life insurance and another three countries have a general scheme for non-life insurance. He went on to point out that the consultation, open until end July on the development of European rules governing bank deposit guarantee systems (Directive 1994/19/EC) would result by end 2009 on a report containing legislative proposals (see EUROPE 9919). The European Commission is consulting on how appropriate it is to set up a Community deposit guarantee system to counter banking system failures. (M.B./transl.jl)