Mipim DISPATCH: Euro Experts Call for Unified Corporate Governance

CANNES-Despite the acceptance of the euro, this continent still lacks unification. Just ask any of the panelists in a Mipim session entitled Do We Need A European Corporate Governance Code?

While individual countries have addressed–or are addressing–the issue of transparency and accountability, the lack of unity on the subject may hamper investors’ interest in cross-border trading, some panelists noted. Throughout the discussion, the debate seemed to reflect many of the issues raised a few years ago in the US, when Sarbanes-Oxley became the law of the land.

“It’s better that we do it ourselves,” said Elizabeth Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation. “We don’t want government poking its nose in our business.”