Company Law

© BDI / fotolia

European Company Law has been an integral part of the internal market right from the start of the European unification process. The first efforts of harmonisation go back to the 1950s. Its objectives are as follows:

- Creation of an adequate protection level for shareholders and third parties;
- Establishment of a level playing field for companies and investors;
- Enabling of free movement of corporations and cross-border management of company groups through new legal forms.

BDI is in favour of a broad range of legal forms in Europe, competing with each other. Companies need free mobility within the internal market, something that has not been fully achieved yet. Legal and tax barriers have to be removed.
BDI is concerned, however, about the growing juridification of entrepreneurial decisions. A quick succession of new rules inevitably leads to a complex implementation process for companies. Overregulation is contrary to the objective of good corporate governance.