LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE MANNERS OF HOLDING SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSEMBLIES IN THE CONDITIONS OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC

Jordan Delev, Ph.D. Assistant professor /International Vision University

Milena Najdova, Ph.D. /National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract: The functioning of the world social and economic order in the 21st century has faced many challenges, but the global Covid 19 pandemic has caused unpredictable tendencies that require immediate, effective and adequate reactions that will respond seriously to the new situation. No society, including the Macedonian one, has remained immune to the consequences caused by this type of pandemic, penetrating deeply into all segments of society. The Covid-19 pandemic directly raised the question of the readiness of national socio-economic orders for their functioning in digital form. The functioning of the main carriers of economic fluctuation, i.e., business entities and their capacity for digitalization is one of the main preoccupations imposed by the pandemic. These issues are current in global and Macedonian aspects. The main purpose of this paper is through analysis of the practice of joint stock companies listed on the Macedonian Stock Exchange and those with special reporting obligations, in conditions of pandemic to see the degree of utilization of the opportunity provided in the Law on Companies for organization at shareholders’ assemblies by electronic means. At the same time, the paper concentrates on the effects that the pandemic causes in the realization of the shareholder rights under the newly created conditions. In addition to analyzing the current situation, the paper provides guidance for improving the provisions for the organization of shareholders’ assemblies by electronic means and the exercise of shareholders’ rights.

Keywords: Joint stock companies, Shareholders assemblies by electronic means, Shareholders’ rights, Covid 19 pandemic