News item | 22-12-2023 | 2:37 PM
Private law legal entities, such as private companies, public limited companies, associations, cooperatives and owners’ associations, may again meet entirely digitally. This was temporarily allowed during the corona pandemic. At the proposal of Minister Weerwind for Legal Protection, the Council of Ministers has approved the submission of a bill on this matter to the House of Representatives.
Fully digital meetings make meeting and decision-making accessible and reduces the regulatory burden for businesses. Legal entities decide for themselves whether they want to hold fully digital meetings.
Many legal entities are obliged to meet with their members or shareholders at least once a year. Until now, these meetings were legally required to be physical or partly physical and partly digital. During the corona pandemic, fully digital meetings were also temporarily allowed. In practice, this has been experienced as successful by many legal entities. That is why fully digital meetings will be allowed again and permanently.
There must be sufficient support among members or shareholders for fully digital meetings. Members and shareholders must be well informed about access to a digital meeting. A fully digital meeting must also take place via a means by which participants can be identified and voted. Common video calling applications are suitable for this. In addition, the bill simplifies an electronic notice for a general meeting, such as an e-mail.
The bill will be submitted to Parliament shortly. The aim is for the law to come into effect on January 1, 2025.