Retail investment funds, hedge funds and private equity are in the focus of the industry reports published by the Commission on 4 July in order to summarize opinion of stakeholders (Commission press release number: IP/06/915). Efficiency improvements of the investment funds are needed as well as the UCITS directive has to be amended within three years the experts say. Also barriers to cross-border hedge fund investments should be lifted, and the Member States are suggested provide more private-equity friendly environment. The College awaits any electronic opinion which might be relevant for the forthcoming White Paper on strengthening the single market framework of for investment funds to be published in November 2006. (by BBJ’s Brussels correspondents)