The Council agreed on its negotiating position on a new directive aimed at making worker representation in large multinational enterprises more effective, as the directive on European Works Councils is to be amended in order to facilitate their establishment, financing and protection.
The new directive will aim at clarifying and more effectively applying the legal provisions governing EWCs, including a clearer definition of transnational issues, stronger rules for setting up an European Works Council and clearer and stricter requirements in cases where an undertaking refuses to provide access to information or insists that information be treated as confidential. EWCs will also be guaranteed effective access to legal proceedings to exercise their rights.
Given the Council’s adoption of the negotiating position, the European Parliament has yet to agree on its mandate. Negotiations will then begin between the two legislators with a view to reaching an agreement on the new directive.