Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Whereas:

The Commission Action Plan on Modernising Company Law and Enhancing Corporate Governance in the European Union^f1 adopted in May 2003 identified a series of actions that are required in order to modernise, complete and simplify the regulatory framework for company law and corporate governance.

That Action Plan recognises the importance of expert and public consultation as an integral part of the development of company law and corporate governance at Community level.

The group of non-governmental experts on corporate governance and company law should therefore be established to serve as a body for reflection, debate and advice to the Commission in the field of corporate governance and company law, in particular in connection with the measures foreseen in the Action Plan; it is therefore appropriate to provide for the presence in this group of particularly well-qualified persons, active in the business and the academic communities or the civil society, capable of bringing their specific knowledge of corporate governance and company law at Community level.

The group of non-governmental experts on corporate governance and company law should draw up its own Rules of Procedure and fully respect the role and the prerogatives of the institutions,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: