(17)The lack of harmonisation of safeguards for members has been identified as an obstacle to cross-border operations. Companies and their members face a wide variety of different forms of protection leading to complexity and legal uncertainty. Members should, therefore, be offered the same minimum level of protection regardless of the Member State in which the company is situated. Member States should be able therefore to maintain or introduce additional rules on protection for members, unless such rules conflict with those provided for under this Directive or with the freedom of establishment. Members’ individual rights to information should remain unaffected.