Does the European Company Prevent the 'Delaware-Effect'?

TILEC Discussion Paper No. 2005-010

29 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2005

See all articles by Joseph A. McCahery

Joseph A. McCahery

Tilburg University - School of Law; European Banking Center (EBC); Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Erik P. M. Vermeulen

Tilburg University - Department of Business Law; Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) - Legal Department; Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI); Kyushu University - Graduate School of Law

Date Written: March 2005

Abstract

The forces of globalization and economic integration have given a fresh impetus to company law reform in Europe. As recent judgments of the European Court of Justice encourage competitive lawmaking within the European Union, discussions about the role of the European Commission in the development of company law abound. Who is responsible for setting the agenda and controlling the legislative outcome? The further harmonization attempts and the introduction of the European Company Statute questions the necessity of EU intervention in the company laws regulated by the member states.

This article analyzes the history of EU company law and locates a stable 'non-competitive equilibrium'. This equilibrium follows from member states' unwillingness to give up their lawmaking authority regarding company law issues. From the outset, member states were determined to prevent the 'Delaware-effect'. Since then, stability has ruled. The agenda-setting in EU company law has changed little during the existence of the EU. Even though the recent enactment of the European Company has triggered discussion about competitive lawmaking, it appears that competitive incentives hardly play a decisive role in the development of company law.

Keywords: Company Law, European Company, Regulatory Competition, Delaware

JEL Classification: H77, K22

Suggested Citation

McCahery, Joseph A. and Vermeulen, Erik P.M., Does the European Company Prevent the 'Delaware-Effect'? (March 2005). TILEC Discussion Paper No. 2005-010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=693421 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.693421

Joseph A. McCahery (Contact Author)

Tilburg University - School of Law; European Banking Center (EBC) ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands
+31-(0)13-466-2306 (Phone)
+31-(0)13-466-2323 (Fax)

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC)

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.ecgi.org

Erik P.M. Vermeulen

Tilburg University - Department of Business Law ( email )

Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) - Legal Department ( email )

Amstelplein 2
Amsterdam
Netherlands

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC)

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Kyushu University - Graduate School of Law ( email )

6-19-1, Hakozaki, Higashiku
Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581
Japan

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