Company law / use of digital tools and processes

Background

This European Commission initiative aims to improve transparency by making more information about companies available at EU level. It should enable the cross-border use of authentic and trustworthy data about companies, also through the application of the "once-only" principle, and make the existing rules and procedures fit for the digital age.

Key points

The EESC is overall in favour of the directive, but would recommend the following improvements:

• Extending the directive to cooperatives and foundations, and requiring access to the Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS) for national registers that already contain information about these types of companies.
• Expanding the range of information that must be provided and updated on an annual basis to include the number of employees, the sectors of activity and, for companies established under EU company law, agreements on worker information, consultation and participation rights.
• Requiring the identity of people involved in setting up a company to be verified as part of the legality checks of the preventive control, and extending preventive control to company restructuring through EU company law.

Link to full opinion

Additional information

EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)

Opinion type: mandatory Commission referral

Rapporteur: Franca SALIS-MADINIER (Workers – France)

Reference: COM(2023) 177 final 2023/0089 CODCOM(2023) 177 final 2023/0089 COD

Date of adoption by section: 2/6/2023

Result of the vote: 54 votes in favour and none against, with no abstentions

Date of adoption by plenary: 14/6/2023

Outcome of the vote: 199 votes in favour and 2 against, with 7 abstentions

Contacts

Press officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 8422 | Mob.: +32 475 99 94 32

email: daniela.marangoni@eesc.europa.eu

Policy officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9140

email: marco.manfroni@eesc.europa.eu