5th European Company Law and Corporate Governance Conference

After years of almost breathless legislative activities in the area of EU company law and corporate governance, we have more recently experienced a period of reflection. This conference, which takes place on the occasion of the German Council presidency, seeks to give fresh impetus to the future of European company law. In an increasingly mobile environment, does Europe offer companies the right legal framework? Will the 14th Company Law Directive bridge the last gaps of the Internal Market or will International Private Law have to set additional rules? Is there a need for a separate European legal form in addition to the SE, more aimed at smaller companies? What should we think about the 'One share – one vote' concept, which is currently being strongly promoted in Brussels? It is a great honour for us that the BDI conference will be held under the auspices of the Federal Minister of Justice, Ms Brigitte Zypries.



After years of almost breathless legislative activities in the area of EU company law and corporate governance, we have more recently experienced a period of reflection. This conference, which takes place on the occasion of the German Council presidency, seeks to give fresh impetus to the future of European company law. In an increasingly mobile environment, does Europe offer companies the right legal framework? Will the 14th Company Law Directive bridge the last gaps of the Internal Market or will International Private Law have to set additional rules? Is there a need for a separate European legal form in addition to the SE, more aimed at smaller companies? What should we think about the 'One share – one vote' concept, which is currently being strongly promoted in Brussels? It is a great honour for us that the BDI conference will be held under the auspices of the Federal Minister of Justice, Ms Brigitte Zypries.

27 June 2007
19:00 h	Evening Reception Bundesministerium der Justiz / Federal Ministry of Justice Brigitte Zypries Federal Minister of Justice Welcoming Speech
28 June 2007
9:00 h	Welcome and Introduction Jürgen R. Thumann President, BDI – Federation of German Industries ( see speech)
9:20 h	Key Note Address Charlie McCreevy European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services ( see speech)
9:50 h	View from the European Parliament Klaus-Heiner Lehne MEP, Co-ordinator of the EPP-ED group in the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament ( see speech)
10:50 h	Panel I: Company Mobility - Does Europe offer the right framework?
	Panellists: Hans-Jürgen Sonnenberger, Professor, University of Munich, Germany ( see speech) Erik Vermeulen, Senior Legal Counsel, Philips International BV and Professor, Tilburg University, The Netherlands ( see presentation see paper) Stefano Micossi, Director General, Assonime, Italy ( see presentation) Silja Maul, KPMG, Germany ( see speech) Moderator: Eckart Sünner, President, Tax, Legal and Insurance, BASF AG ( see speech)
13:20 h	Panel II: European Private Company - Useful tool or wishful thinking?
	Panellists: Joëlle Simon, BUSINESSEUROPE, Director Legal Affairs, MEDEF, France ( see speech) Christoph Teichmann, Professor, University of Würzburg, Germany ( see presentation longer version) Rumen Radev, UNIQUE, Vice-Chairman, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, Bulgaria Robert Drury, University of Exeter, United Kingdom ( see presentation see speech) Moderator: Holger Kunze, VDMA European Office ( see speech)
15:00 h	Panel III: One share – one vote. Proportionality between ownership and control?
	Panellists: Christophe Clerc, Avocat, France ( see presentation) Iain Richards, Head of European Governance, Morley Fund Management, United Kingdom ( see speech) Jan Persson, Senior Vice President, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise ( see presentation see speech) Rod Armitage, Director Legal Affairs, CBI, United Kingdom Moderator: Thomas Kremer, General Counsel, ThyssenKrupp AG
16:20 h	Closing remarks Klaus Bräunig Spokesman for the Executive Board, BDI - Federation of German Industries