CONFERENCE

Stimulating Business in a Europe in Crisis

Evolving Trends & the Case of Greece

Thessaloniki, Greece 2 June 2015 9:00-18:00

EUROPE-GOOGLE EARTH

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

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Conference Concept

In a world reeling from one financial crisis to the next, the aim of the conference is to build awareness around the topical issue of how to stimulate business and better facilitate the sustainable operation and growth of companies in the current EU political and socio-economic climate. The conference specifically aims to develop a new line of academic thought in scholarship in the disciplines of social sciences and law, specifically in the disciplines of law, politics, economics, international and EU relations by moving away from traditional corporate governance discussions focusing on the relationship between shareholders and companies towards a wider range of topical discussions which focus on the relationship between companies and the societies in which they operate.

Discussions on Greece’s ongoing social depression and slow economic recovery have resurfaced with the latest election of Greece’s left-wing party Syriza. Political discussions and political preferences aside, the case of Greece deserves attention from a pragmatic point of view. The case of Greece illustrates a series of deficiencies and failures of the European Union. The EU Treaty after Lisbon emphasises the overarching objectives of sustainable development and a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress. We are now however witnessing a different Union from the one envisaged by its founders, with unemployment amongst especially young people in the Southern European countries over 50 per cent, businesses closing down or moving overseas, gender inequality, xenophobia, social unrest, human rights violations, global warming and pressure on other planetary boundaries. Business has a crucial role to play in solving these issues and in this current socio-political-economic climate how to stimulate business is a pervasive question. How to stimulate business in an EU in crisis provides the broader setting for reflecting on current European trends for regulating and managing corporations, and the significance this has for corporations’ legal status and their operations, as well as for corporations’ behaviour towards society and the world.

Call for Papers

While much company law and corporate governance discussion focuses on the relationship between shareholders and companies and especially listed companies, this conference welcomes papers from relevant legal disciplines, from the interface of law and economics and other interdisciplinary contributions, on the following topical themes:

The role of law in stimulating business at a time of economic crisis
The European Constitutional framework within the context of facilitating the sustainable operation and growth of companies
The role of alternative business forms and bottom-up innovation
The role of business in furthering employment and social progress in an EU in crisis
Responsible and sustainable entrepreneurship
The role of women in business
The dual private and public nature of corporate law and corporate governance

We also encourage the submission of contributions on Greece as a case study in this context, including topics on the regulation and management of corporations and other business forms, whether publicly or privately held, as well as other topical issues in the current political and socio-economic climate

Key dates and Information

Abstract Submission (maximum 500 words) via this web form by 20 March 2015. Response by 30 March 2015
Register for the conference here by 4 May 2015
Submission of working papers by 1 May 2015
Download Conference Programme 2 June 2015
Download information on accommodation with discounted price for conference participants and general information see Info Thessaloniki Conference 2015

A peer-reviewed publication is anticipated based on the presentations at the conference. Please contact conference organisers for more information.

Please be advised that we are not able to offer to cover funds for travel and accommodation for speakers at this conference. The registration fee will be waived for all accepted speakers. Speakers are invited to a dinner after the conference. Registration Fee: Full 20 Euros/Student Free. Fee includes conference material, refreshments, lunch, and a drinks reception.

Questions may be addressed to Professor Beate Sjåfjell at b.k.sjafjell@jus.uio.no