A Retrospective on EU Initiatives

The history of ecoDa is intrinsically linked to the history of European institutions and the initiatives driven by various European Commissioners responsible for Corporate Governance. For example, the first Action Plan in 2003 for Modernizing European Company Law and Enhancing Corporate Governance set the stage for the creation of ecoDa. As the Commission focused on Corporate Governance and began proposing legislative texts, it encouraged national institutes to come together and form a European confederation.
On the occasion of ecoDa’s 20th anniversary, we felt it was important to retrace these developments by highlighting the most significant legislative texts that have influenced the functioning and best practices of boards of directors in Europe. This document offers a retrospective of these texts, explaining the context and developments that led to their final versions.
It is intended for any board member who wishes to gain a comprehensive understanding, as well as for other Corporate Governance professionals curious about the historical background of the European legislative framework that underpins today’s board practices.