The study was prepared by the law firm Ernst&Young Report following a call for tender from the European Commission. It has four main aims:

  1. to provide a mapping of the relevant legislation applicable in 25 EU/EEA Member States,

  2. to draw-up an inventory of the existing SEs,

  3. to analyse the data gathered and identify the main drivers for setting up or not setting up an SE, the main trends and practical problems,

  4. to provide an analytical conclusion focusing on the effectiveness of the SE Statute.