This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
European Economic Interest Grouping
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EEC) No 2137/85 – the European Economic Interest Grouping
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
KEY POINTS
An EEIG must be formed in accordance with the rules described below.
Purpose
The purpose of the grouping is to facilitate or develop the economic activities of its members by a pooling of resources, activities or skills. This is intended to produce better results than the members acting alone.
Formation
Employees
An EEIG cannot employ more than 500 persons.
Publication of formation and dissolution
When a grouping is formed or dissolved, a notice must be published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Official address
A grouping’s official address must be within the EU. It may be transferred from one EU country to another subject to certain conditions.
Voting rights and organs
Each member of an EEIG has 1 vote, although the contract for its formation may give certain members more than 1 vote provided that no 1 member holds a majority of the votes. The regulation lists those decisions for which unanimity is required.
The EEIG must have at least 2 organs:
The managers represent and bind the EEIG in its dealings with third parties even where their acts do not fall within the objects of the grouping.
Profits
It is not intended that the grouping should make profits for itself. The profits of an EEIG will be deemed to be the profits of its members and will be apportioned either according to the relevant clause in the contract or, failing such a clause, in equal shares. The profits or losses of an EEIG will be taxable only in the hands of its members.
Unlimited joint and several liability
As a counterweight to the contractual freedom which is at the basis of the EEIG and the fact that members are not required to provide a minimum amount of capital, each member of the EEIG has unlimited joint and several liability for its debts.
BACKGROUND
This regulation meets the need for the harmonious development of economic activity throughout the EU and the establishment of a single market offering conditions analogous to those of a national market.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2137/85 of 25 July 1985 on the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) (OJ L 199, 31.7.1985, pp. 1–9)
last update 20.06.2016