THE CENTRE
OUR OBJECTIVES
The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on European Union Sustainable Finance and Law (EUSFiL), located at the Department of Company law of the University of Genoa, focused on research concerning the legal implications of the integration of sustainability in the financial sector, with particular referring to the recent reform of the European Union.
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The need for a transition to a circular and sustainable economic system has never been so urgent. States, financial institutions, ONGs, companies, professionals and the civil society are together required to quickly find solutions to cope with the challenges posed by climate change and the current and future detrimental effects of human business activities on the environment.
Since the launch of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy in 2001, the EU Commission has committed to contributing to the promotion of sustainable development in key cross-sectoral projects, by intervening in all environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas. In March 2018, based on the Final Report published by the High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG), the Commission adopted the Action Plan “Financing Sustainable Growth”, which establishes a plan setting out strategic recommendations for a financial system that supports sustainable investments. Since then, the Commission - supported by the European Supervisory Authorities - has been developing a new regulatory framework for financial institutions in order to promote sustainable finance, which includes corporate disclosure of climate-related information, sustainability-related disclosure in the financial services sector, labels for benchmarks (ESG and climate), taxonomy for sustainable activities, green bond standard, and an international platform on sustainable finance.
EUSFiL fully intercepts the HLEG’s cross-cutting recommendations as well as the EU Commission key actions that include investigating alternative approaches to current practices for long-term investment portfolios and developing ‘Sustainable Finance Compacts’ with leading countries to promote sustainable finance policy reform at the international level.
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The Centre engages in research, education, and publication that broadens inquiry, dialogue, and debate beyond traditional academic boundaries, bridging the gap between theory and practice. In this respect, the Centre brings together a European team of experienced scholars with a very high profile in their field of work (corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, capital markets, banking and insurance law, financial regulation, law and economics etc.), some of which have already led or is leading research projects specifically concerning CSR and/or sustainable finance or is participating in some of them.
Furthermore, the Centre involves other scholars, including economists and risk management experts and other non-academic bodies, and it engages with international research centre and universities.
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Based on their specific competencies and skills, each EUSFiL researcher addresses his/her research activities to assess the legal and/or economic tools to be developed for, as well as the implications derived from, the need to integrate sustainability into the company and financial law. Each contribution falls under one of four main workstreams, as follows:
Workstream 1
Ethics and sustainability in corporate law, corporate governance and conduct
Workstream 2
Ensuring financial stability and sustainability
Workstream 3
Investor protection in Financial Markets Regulation
Workstream 4
Engagement, inclusion and innovation in Finance
1.
Serving as a focal point of scientific knowledge and skills on EU Sustainable Finance Regulation
2.
Involving law students and encouraging young researchers in the discussion on the EU development of sustainable finance framework
3.
Developing skills and capabilities in sustainable finance, thus creating job opportunities in private and public organisations, also in response to a growing demand for highly skilled sustainability professionals
4.
Creating transnational activities and links with other institutions in other EU countries
5.
Promoting dialogue, cooperation and expertise sharing practices on sustainability policy development and implementation with non-EU countries – especially with Central and Eastern European EU accession countries;
6.
Promoting active EU citizenship and values by organising events with citizens and non-specialist audiences, school pupils, policy-makers, local authorities and other stakeholders at the local, regional and national level
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The Centre Activities
RESEARCH
TEACHING & TRAINING
WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES
THINK TANK
WHAT IS A JM CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE?
A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is a focal point of competence and knowledge on European Union subjects. It brings together high-level experts to create links between the various disciplines and resources in European studies and to form links with academic institutions in other countries.
The Centres play a key role in reaching out to students from faculties not normally dealing with European Union issues as well as to policy makers, civil servants, organised civil society and the general public at large.
For further information on Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence please refer to the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.