Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

The green and digital transitions create opportunities and challenges for labour markets, employers and employees. To find sustainable solutions to labour market changes, employees, employers and citizens should be encouraged to participate in the democratic systems and decision-making processes.

European Works Councils are undoubtedly a success story and an important pillar of the European social model. Nearly three decades have passed since the adoption and transposition of Directive 94/45/EC and over a decade has passed since the adoption of Directive 2009/38/EC.

There is no longer any justification to exempt agreements signed prior to Directive 94/45/EC, or to retain that otherwise obsolete Directive for agreements signed or amended during the transposition period of Directive 2009/38/EC. Therefore, agreements exempted under Article 14 of Directive 2009/38/EC should be brought into the scope of that Directive.

Certain decisions having a potential significant direct or consequential effect on the interests of employees must be the subject of information and consultation of the employees’ appointed representatives as soon as possible. Although Directives 94/45/EC and 2009/38/EC established transnational collective labour rights on information and consultation, those rights are in practice often not respected and have proven very difficult to enforce. In many cases, employers have implemented measures with transnational issues without informing and consulting the European Works Council and European Works Councils are frequently informed and consulted only after measures with transnational issues have been implemented. Therefore, provisions enabling the effective enforcement should be established.