Minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products

The Council examined a progress report on a proposal for a Regulation on the statute for a European private company (SPE).

The Ministers' discussions focused on key aspects of the proposal: the applicable law, the cross-border element, share capital, compliance control, provisions on the company's registered office, liability of directors, and employee participation.

The proposal for a Regulation was discussed on several occasions by the Council's preparatory bodies following the presentation of the proposal by the Commission on 27 June 2008. It is part of a package of measures contained in the "Small Business Act for Europe" and provides for the establishment and functioning of the European private company.