Newsletter June 2006

Eurosif meetings

Eurosif meets with leading MEPs to discuss the Voting Directive
Eurosif has been following the progression of the Voting Directive in the European Parliament over the last few months. The directive, if passed, will harmonise various aspects of shareholders’ rights on voting across the Union. Eurosif has met with two of the key Parliamentarians that will influence the shaping of the Directive, Peter Skinner and Michel Rocard. Both have asked Eurosif for input and once the initial draft is published, Eurosif will assess how best to respond. Eurosif member affiliates interested in learning more about this are encouraged to contact Eurosif.

Eurosif attends 2006 Corporate Governance Transatlantic Dialogue Conference
Eurosif was in Brussels on June 27th, 2006 to attend the ECGI’s Annual Dialogue on some of the most important issues in Corporate Governance. The theme of the 2006 Conference was "Controlling shareholders and corporate governance: Better monitors or more self-dealing?" DG Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevv and SEC Commissioner Cynthia Glassman both discussed the growing role of shareholder activists and their influence on corporate governance. Eurosif finds clear evidence that the importance of ‘Sustainable Governance’ is increasing over time. Eurosif continues to meet with DG Internal Market representatives and other EU representatives in order to help policy makers understand the links between long-term investing and improved governance.

EU News

Parliament urges EU nations to act on energy savings
If existing legislation was fully implemented in the member states, the EU would already be half way to meeting its 20% energy-saving target by 2020, the Parliament says. The European Parliament has urged the Commission to take action against member states not fully complying with existing EU energy-efficiency legislation that it says could slash energy consumption by 10% altogether.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/parliament-urges-eu-nations-act-energy-savings/article-155764

MEPs want tight, yet flexible air quality rules
Limit values on pollution caused by vehicle fuel exhausts and agriculture could be tightened if the European Parliament follows the opinion of its environment committee in September. Environmentalists say the new limits are "a smokescreen".
http://Euractiv.cabestan.com/Go/index.cfm?WL=40844&WS=38088_1500623&WA=3960

European leaders renew sustainable development commitments
EU heads of states and government strengthened the review of the EU's sustainable development strategy demanding more focus for sustainable production and consumption. But the relationship between this strategy and the EU's Lisbon agenda remains vague.
http://Euractiv.cabestan.com/Go/index.cfm?WL=40521&WS=38088_1500623&WA=3942

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