Course aims:

Develop advanced theoretical and analytical understanding of corporate governance models, mechanisms, and stakeholder relations within the EU framework.
Explore the interaction between EU legislation, directives, and soft-law instruments shaping corporate behavior, board structures, shareholder engagement, and disclosure obligations.
Enhance the ability to critically assess and compare governance practices across EU member states and other major jurisdictions.
Foster awareness of sustainability and ESG integration as central components of modern European corporate governance.
Cultivate applied skills in evaluating, designing, and recommending corporate governance policies and practices through case-based and problem-solving approaches.

Course Entry Requirements:

None

Course contents:

This course explores the institutional, legal, and practical aspects of corporate governance within the European Union. It examines how EU legislation, directives, and soft law mechanisms shape governance structures, transparency, accountability, and shareholder rights in European corporations. The course integrates both theoretical frameworks and real-world corporate case studies, with emphasis on sustainability, ESG principles, and cross-border corporate practices. 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the key theories and models of corporate governance and their evolution in the EU context.

2. Analyze the European regulatory framework governing companies, boards, shareholders, and stakeholders.

3. Evaluate corporate governance practices across EU member states and in comparison to other global systems.

4. Assess the impact of EU directives and regulations on transparency, risk management, and sustainability.

5. Apply governance principles to case studies of European corporations, focusing on ethics, accountability, and ESG integration.

Teaching methods:

Lecture, conversation, exemplification.

Learning outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Interpret and critically assess EU corporate governance legislation 

• Discuss challenges related to cross-border corporate governance, mergers, and institutional investors.

• Formulate policy recommendations and corporate governance improvement plans.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Study case 50%, Papers presented 50%

Recommended reading:

Tricker, B., Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies, and Practices, Oxford University Press, OXFORD, 2022, all.
Clarke, T, International Corporate Governance: A Comparative Approach, Routledge, lONDON, 2020, all.
Solomon, J, Corporate Governance and Accountability, Wiley, sAN fRANCISCO, 2021, ALL.