Boards of Directors in European Companies

The recent financial crisis has once again stressed the importance of good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility in building trust in the European internal market. It has given rise to a discussion of whether a number of issues should be addressed through regulation or soft law at EU level. These issues relate in particular to the duties of directors in European companies as well as how the board of directors is composed and structured. Drawing attention first to duties of directors and then to the organisation of the board, this appropriately timed analysis takes stock of the status of the initiatives that have been debated so far, examines whether the rules which have been adopted form a coherent system, and suggests ways in which these initiatives affect national law. Topics covered include the following: directors’ conflicts of interest; rules on shareholder transparency; duty to promote active ownership; whether it is possible to find a balance between corporate enterprise and risk control; integration of environmental and social concerns in the decision-making of the company; the board’s role as a monitor of management; overcoming managerial deficiencies; the concept of independent directors; independence from a controlling shareholder; nomination of board members; disqualification of directors; and directors duties in groups of companies.