ELI Guidance on Company Capital and Financial Accounting for Corporate Sustainability: A Foreword

The critical role of companies in contributing to environmental, social and governance sustainability within the framework of the European Green Deal developed by the European Union is well known and does not need to be underlined. What is less known is the action that should be taken for facilitating sustainable business conduct. It is however manifest that only sustainable companies can be able and long-term responsible for providing a contribution for the benefit of the society at large. It is also manifest that only financially solid companies may reach and ensure corporate sustainability over a significantly long period of time. A joint consideration of the relationship between corporate sustainability, company law and financial accounting is therefore essential for a valuable clarification of one important aspect of the ongoing debate concerning sustainability. This Report, which is the result of a research project conducted within the European Law Institute by a qualified team under the direction of three highly valued experts as reporters – Yuri Biondi, Colin Haslam and Corrado Malberti, respectfully from France, the United Kingdom and Italy – examines the mentioned relationship between multiple elements, with a view to formulating recommendations on company capital and financial accounting for corporate sustainability.