European Commission proposals to freeze staff numbers at Europe's main markets watchdog – where resources are already stretched – have been deemed insufficient by MEPs.

In draft amendments to the European Commission's June budget proposal for 2015, the European Parliament recommended that supra-national regulator the European Securities and Markets Authority should have 147 full-time staff next year, a 10% increase on this year's number of 133. The Commission's initial budget proposed retaining staff numbers at 133 for 2015.