This book examines Directive 2007/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council "on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in listed companies", as well as the upcoming harmonization of our law with it, as outlined to take place based on the Draft Law "Reform and amendment of the codified law 2190/1920 on anonymous companies - Incorporation into Greek law of Directive 2007/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in listed companies".

In particular, the work is divided into four chapters. The first chapter examines the nature of shares as intangible assets and the forms of modern securities intermediation, as factors of crucial importance for the internationalization of securities markets. The analysis, beyond its legal texture, attempts to outline the picture of modern markets that have led to situations of extensive abstention of shareholders from exercising their rights and have made it imperative to take institutional measures to facilitate and encourage their cross-border exercise.

The second chapter analyzes the rights of the shareholder, which have concerned the Community legislator in this case, namely the rights of participation and exercise of voting rights in the general meeting, as defined in our institutional law, Law 2190/1920. This chapter prepares the ground for the forthcoming institutional change.

The community initiative to facilitate and strengthen the exercise of these shareholder rights, as implemented by Directive 2007/36, is the subject of the third chapter. Specifically, this chapter examines the specific reasons that necessitated the shaping of new rules and the harmonization of shareholder rights.

The fourth and most important chapter of the work follows. In this chapter, the legal issues mentioned above are examined. Specifically, the examination takes into account, on the one hand, the relevant provisions of the Directive and, on the other hand, the provisions of the Draft Law. The comparative analysis of these legal texts aims to demonstrate how national law is expected to regulate these issues in the forthcoming harmonization.

Finally, the conclusion summarizes the main issues and considerations developed in the main parts of the book and identifies the main changes expected to occur with the incorporation of the Directive into the domestic system.