The European Union is considering whether to impose the principle of "one share, one vote" in the bloc's listed companies, the EU's top financial market regulator said today.
An external study commissioned by the European Commission last year had provided useful information, but the picture was not clear cut, EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said today in Berlin.
He said he was "truly open-minded" about the issue and had instructed officials to examine whether there was a need for the European Union executive to act.
Mr McCreevy would face opposition in some member states and from parts of the European Parliament to pushing ahead with making one share, one vote mandatory for the bloc's 8,000 listed companies.
Turning to the issue of cross-border transfers of corporate headquarters, Mr McCreevy said initial work had led him to decide that the commission would not rush ahead with legislation.
The issue is also politically sensitive as it would make it easier for companies to move to EU states where corporate taxes are lower.
The commission would await the outcome of a European Court of Justice ruling, expected in the autumn, that would likely deliver more clarity, Mr McCreevy added.