The EC has launched a public consultation that addresses the ways in which corporate governance of European companies can be improved. It addresses issues such as: (i) the effective functioning and diversity of the board of directors; (ii) how to enhance shareholders’ involvement on corporate governance issues and encourage more of them to take an interest in sustainable returns and longer term performance; (iii) how to enhance the protection of minority shareholders; and (iv) how to improve monitoring and enforcement of the existing national corporate governance codes in order to provide investors and the public with meaningful information.