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Elverding Conference 2023

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Enhancing sustainable business and corporate regulation in the EU

The EU Green Deal indicates that the activities of firms and investors are “key to financing the green transition”. It emphasises the need for corporate governance reforms to promote sustainability and address corporate short-termism, and highlights that long-term market signals are needed “to direct financial and capital flows to green investment and to avoid stranded assets.” 

In support of these aims, this conference will examine, first, how different strategies for active ownership can send effective signals to promote business sustainability and, second, how directors’ duties can be arranged so that they are in line with the social role of corporations. The conference will also include a reflection with representatives from companies, institutional investors, and civil society to see what kinds of signals can enhance sustainable business and corporate regulation in the EU.

VENUE

Faculty of Law, Bouillonstraat 1, Maastricht
Conference room: Feestzaal

PROGRAMME

12.00h Lunch & Registration
12.50h Introduction by  Mieke Olaerts Professor of Comparative and National Company Law and holder of the Elverding Chair on Sustainable Business, Culture and Corporate Regulation (Maastricht University)
13.00h

Session 1: Effective and sustainable approaches to active ownership
EU policy makes it clear that long-term market signals are key to the sustainable transition of companies. This session therefore examines, using a legal and economic lens, how active ownership can be used strategically and effectively to communicate long-term expectations regarding sustainability.

  • ‘Shareholder activism as a driver of sustainability’ by Sofie Cools, Professor of Corporate Law (KU Leuven) and Professor of Sustainable Company Law (Radboud University)
  • ‘Active Ownership Strategies’ by Rob Bauer, Professor of Finance and holder of the Elverding Chair on Sustainable Business, Culture and Corporate Regulation (Maastricht University)
  • Moderator: Constantijn van Aartsen Postdoctoral researcher Elverding Chair (Maastricht University)
14.30h Coffee Break
15.00h

Session 2: Directors’ duties and the role of corporations 
The purpose of corporations and the duties of directors for socially responsible activities are key themes in contemporary discussions on corporate law and regulation. The EU, for example, has proposed to include a duty of care for directors for the consequences of their decisions for sustainability matters, and there is increasing discussion on whether companies should adopt a socially oriented purpose. This session discusses whether and how these developments are beneficial for firms and for sustainability.

  • ‘Corporate Purpose, Corporate Law and Shareholder Voice’ by Paul Davies, Emeritus Professor of Corporate Law; Senior Research Fellow (University of Oxford)
  • Jaap Winter Professor of Corporate Law, Governance and Behaviour (VU Amsterdam), Partner at Phyleon leadership & governance, Chairman of The Supervisory Board Royal Schiphol Group, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Erasmus University Rotterdam.
  • Moderator: Mieke Olaerts
16.30h Coffee Break
17.00h

Session 3: Panel discussion
This panel invites speakers from diverse backgrounds (companies, institutional investors, and civil society) to reflect on the day’s discussion and create bridges between theory and practice.

  • Annelien van Meer Sustainability Manager at a.s.r.
  • Rients Abma Executive Director of Eumedion
  • Simon Rawson Director of Corporate Engagement & Deputy CEO of ShareAction
  • Moderator: Rob Bauer
18.00u Closing & Drinks
19.00h End

 

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