As part of the publication of an assessment of the revised directive on European works councils (directive 2009/38/EC), the European Commission announced on Monday 14 May that it would be making available €7 million to social partners in 2019 to help implement the said directive. The Commission also intends to develop a practical handbook for professional users.
The European Commission published the positive assessment of the quality of the transposition of the directive by member states and highlighted that "added European value" had been "confirmed". The assessment therefore demonstrates that France, Germany and the United Kingdom are the three member states that have the most European works councils. Nonetheless, the Commission also points out that the directive has not produced any speed up in setting up European level work councils and that around 20 councils are created at European level every year.
According to the study, this situation is created by the complicated way works councils are set up, the lack of obligations and knowledge regarding the legal conditions and, ultimately, the excessive time involved in setting up these councils.
The Commission is therefore proposing threefold action to enhance implementation of the said directive: firstly, to create a practical guide book for social partners; to create funding in 2019 to the tune of €7 million for supporting the introduction of the European work councils and, finally, guaranteeing the comprehensive transposition of the key provisions in the directive among the member states.
It should be recalled that the recast directive in 2009 seeks to facilitate the setting up of European work councils in companies that have a Community dimension in an attempt to enhance communication and consultation of workers, particularly in cases involving restructuring (see EUROPE 9889).
To consult the Commission's assessment report please see: https://bit.ly/2IeHfYO . (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)