The SE Regulation and Directive transposition process has reached its final stage in Greece. Last week (25 October 2005) the Greek Parliament adopted the Law which transposes the provisions of the SE Regulation. This was necessary in order first to provide the framework for the dualistic system of corporate governance (management board and separate supervisory board), and second to extend the application of national legislation on limited companies to the new SEs.

The door is now open for transposition of the SE Directive. Transposition will take the form of a Presidential Decree. The Decree has been drafted and is currently under legal consideration by the Ministry of Employment and the Research Committee of the Greek Parliament. This means that the process may be concluded well before the end of 2005. The acceleration of the process has helped to boost the national debate on the issue. The social partners have participated in parliamentary committees for “transposition” of the Regulation and in working groups on the drafting of the Presidential Decree transposing the SE Directive. In this context the OKE – the Economic and Social Council (www.oke.gr) – issued an opinion on the SE. To promote the national debate on the SE and discuss its industrial relations implications, CIRN (Center for Industrial Relations and Negotiations) at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) will organise an international seminar, planned for 12–14 July 2005 in Athens.