Table: Chronology of key stages of the European Works Council (EWC) Directive's development
| Date | Document title | Overview of document | Related link(s) | |||||
| 2024 | ||||||||
| Jun | Strengthening representation of EU workers in multinational companies: Council agrees its position on the European works council directive | European Council's negotiating position ('general approach') for the trialogue on the new EWC Directive | https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/20/strengthening-representation-of-eu-workers-in-multinational-companies-council-agrees-its-position-on-the-european-works-council-directive/ | |||||
May
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Joint EU Trade Union statement toward the Council negotiation on the revision of the European Works Council Directive |
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Apr
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MEPs: Give workers a real voice in multinationals
| Press release from ETUC on the employment committee of the European Parliament’s vote in favour of upholding workers’ rights and social dialogue in multinational companies | ETUC press release | |||||
Mar |
Democracy at Work matters: For a European Works Council Directive that delivers for workers! | Document on the position adopted by the ETUC on EWC Directive revisions | ETUC press release | |||||
| Revision of the European Works Councils Directive: Stronger social dialogue in a multinational context | Briefing and position of the European Parliament on proposed revision of the EWC Directive | European Parliament briefing | ||||||
Feb |
The EC proposal to revise the EWC Directive - a BusinessEurope position paper |
Position paper from BusinessEurope on the EC proposal to revise the EWC Directive |
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Jan |
Improvements to European Works Councils under ndew draft directive |
Press release from ETUC on the European Commission's January proposal for a revision of the EWC Directive |
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| 2023 | ||||||||
| Oct | Trade unions call for review of EWC Directive | Part of a special report on Just Transition, Euractive commentary on ETUC call on the European Commission to propose a revision of the EWC Directive | Euractiv.com | |||||
| ETUC Executive Committee adopts a position paper on EWCs | ETUC position paper | |||||||
| Sept | ETUC response to the second-phase consultation of Social Partners under Article 154 TFEU on a possible revision of the European Works Council Directive (2009/38/EC) | Response paper from ETUC to the second phase consultation by the European Commission of social partners on possible revision of the EWC Directive | https://www.etuc.org/system/files/document/file2023-10/EN-Adopted-ETUC%20response%20to%20the%20second-phase%20consultation%20of%20Social%20Partners%202_0.pdf | |||||
| Jul | Strengthening social dialogue: second-stage consultation of social partners on European Works Councils Directive | Press release from the European Commission on the second stage of consultation of European social partners on a possible revision of the EWC Directive | https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3922 | |||||
| Apr | BusinessEurope Consultation Response | Response from BusinessEurope to the first phase of social partner consultation on a possible revision of the EWC Directive | Business Europe Consultation Response | |||||
| Strengthening social dialogue: first-stage consultation of social partners on EWC Directive | Press release from the European Commission that overviews its launch of the first stage of consultation of European social partners on a possible revision of the EWC Directive | https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2141 | ||||||
| Feb | EWC Briefing on the European Parliament's Report on the EWC Directive Revision | Briefing paper from ETUC on the adoption of the European Parliament report on the revision of the EWC Directive and European Parliament's adoption of Radtke Report urging improvement | ETUC briefing | |||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| May | Draft report with recommendations to the Commission on Revision of EWC Directive (2019/2183(INL)) C | Draft report from Dennis Radtke (MEP) with recommendations to the Commission on Revision of EWC Directive to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, including a motion for a European Parliament Resolution and Recommendations as to the content of the proposal | Draft Report by D. Radtke, MEP | |||||
| 2021 | ||||||||
| Nov | Report on democracy at work: A European framework for employees' participation rights and the revision of the EWC Directive | Report from the European Parliament prepared by Gabriele Bischoff on a European framework for employees; participation rights and the revision of the EWC Directive (which precipitated the European Parliament's activity in this area) | REPORT on democracy at work: a European framework for employees’ participation rights and the revision of the European Works Council Directive | |||||
| 2018 | ||||||||
| May | Report on the implementation by Member States of Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a EWC or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (Recast) (COM(2018) 292 final) | Working paper by European Commission staff that evaluates the impact of new rules and changes introduced by the EWC Recast Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment and operation of a ‘EWC) or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees | https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=19496&langId=en | |||||
| 2017 | ||||||||
| Mar | For a modern EWC Directive in the Digital Era | Position paper from ETUC on priorities for making workers' rights to information and consultation effective and solving difficulties in the practical implementation of the EWC Directive (adopted by ETUC Executive Committee on 15-16 March 2017) | ETUC Position paper/For a modern EWC Directive in the Digital Era | ETUC | |||||
| 2016 | ||||||||
| Mar | Evaluation study on the implementation of Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a EWC: Final report | Evaluation study by ICF that evaluates the transposition and implementation of the EWC Recast Directive in the EEA countries and the extent to which it has achieved the goals of the Recast | Evaluation study on the implementation of Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu) | |||||
| Jan | Evaluation on the implementation of Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees | https://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2016_empl_011_evaluation_european_works_council_en.pdf | ||||||
| 2011 | ||||||||
| Jun | Transposition deadline for member states (missed by: CZ, DE, EE, IE, EL, FR, IT, CY, LT, HU, NL, PL, RO, SI, ICE, LIE and LU) | |||||||
| 2009 | ||||||||
| Jul | Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees’ | Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on establishing EWCs or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and groups of undertakings for informing and consulting employees | Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (europa.eu) | |||||
| May | Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory | Official announcement in the Official Journal of the European Union of the new recast directive 2009/38/EC | EUR-Lex - L:2009:122:TOC - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) | |||||
| Apr | EU Council of Ministers approves the text of the EWC Recast Directive | |||||||
| 2008 | ||||||||
| Dec | European Parliament legislative resolution 16 December 2008 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (recast) | Texts adopted - European Works Council (Recast) ***I - Tuesday, 16 December 2008 (europa.eu)
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| European Parliament adopts the report by Philip Bushill-Matthews on the plenary set to vote on the text (C6-0258/2008). | ||||||||
| Nov | Richtlijn Europese ondernemingsraden: betere informatie en overleg voor werknemers | Adoption of the amendments to the report by rapporteur Philip Bushill-Matthews by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament | https://www.parlement.com/id/vi04gklxw9zf/nieuws/richtlijn_europese_ondernemingsraden | |||||
| Recast of the EWC Directive: Impact Assessment | A review by DBERR of Commission Directive 94/45/EC on European Work Councils for the purpose of informing and consulting employees | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2008/303/pdfs/ukia_20080303_en.pdf | ||||||
| Oct | Frame for a new EWC Directive stands | Joint advice by the social partners on the EWC Recast Directive concerning Art. 13 agreements | https://www.ewc-news.com/en032008.htm | |||||
| Sep | Draft report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a EWC or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (recast) (COM(2008)0419 – C6-0258/2008 – 2008/0141(COD)) | Draft report from the European Parliament (rapporteur: Philip Bushill-Matthews) (Committee on Economic and Social Affairs) on the plenary set to vote on the EWC Directive text | https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pr/742/742311/742311en.pdf | |||||
| Trade Union Memorandum to the French Presidency of the European Union | ETUC memorandum for the French Presidency, with one of the points concerning the revision of the EWC Directive | https://www.etuc.org/sites/default/files/FR_PresidencyMemo_Final-EN_1.pdf | ||||||
| ETUC Memorandum to French Presidency in the EU | Press release on ETUC's Memorandum to the French Presidency, including on EWCs | https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/etuc-submits-its-memorandum-french-presidency-eu | ||||||
| Aug | Social partners give advice on European Works Council 'Recast' Directive | Joint advice document from the European social partners on the European Works Council ‘recast’ directive to the French Minister for Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity. | https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/resources/article/2008/social-partners-give-advice-european-works-council-recast-directive | |||||
| Compromise between BusinessEurope and ETUC achieved in July/August on selected issues concerning the EWC revision/recast | ||||||||
| Jul | European Commission presents a 'Citizens' summary' concerning the recast of the EWC Directive | |||||||
| ETUC Position on the second stage consultation of social partners on the review of Directive 86/613/EEC | https://www.etuc.org/en/document/etuc-position-second-stage-consultation-social-partners-review-directive-86613eec | |||||||
| Commission staff working document accompanying the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the establishment of a european works council or a procedure in community-scale undertakings and community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (recasting): Impact assessment {COM(2008) 419 final} {SEC(2008) 2167} | Working document of Commission staff concerning the envisaged review of the EWC Directive 94/45/EC | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52008SC2166 | ||||||
| Jun | European Commission announces results of impact assessment concerning revision of the EWC Directive | |||||||
| Public letter: European Works Councils - letter from Philippe de Buck to the EU Commissioners' Heads of Cabinets | https://www.businesseurope.eu/publications/european-works-councils-letter-philippe-de-buck-eu-commissioners-heads-cabinets | |||||||
| On the offensive for stronger EWCs | On the offensive for stronger European Works Councils | ETUC | |||||||
| V Spidla speech at ETUC Conference | ||||||||
| Apr | Revision of the European Works Council directive | https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/revision-european-works-council-directive | ||||||
| Employers’ response to the Commission second-stage consultation on European Works Councils | Letter from the employers to V. Spidla (Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission) on their response to the second stage consultation on EWCs | https://www.businesseurope.eu/sites/buseur/files/media/imported/2008-00481-E.pdf | ||||||
| Mar | To be completed | Position paper by two members of the German Parliament (Bundestag), Dr M. Schwanholz (SPD) and J Juratovic (SPD) on the revision of the EWC Directive | To be completed | |||||
| Feb | Opinion of the ETUC of the second phase consultation of the social partners of 20 February 2008 | Document on ETUC outlining its response to the second phase consultation of the social partners on revision of the EWC Directive | https://www.etuc.org/sites/default/files/ETUC_response_EWC_ENrevised2_1.pdf | |||||
| Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2008)419 - Establishment of a EWC or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (Recast) | https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j4nvhdfdk3hydzq_j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vi8rm300nbyu | |||||||
| COM(2008)419 - Establishment of a EWC or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (Recast) | https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vi8rm300nbyu | |||||||
| 2007 | ||||||||
| Dec | A preparatory study for an impact assessment of the EWC Directive | Report for the European Commission that describes key findings of a survey conducted among 70 companies operating a EWC. The research was undertaken by the European Policy Evaluation Consortium between January and April 2008, led by GHK Consulting with assistance from Technopolis France | https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=2421&langId=en | |||||
| European Parliament resolution on the Commission’s Legislative and Work Programme for 2008 | https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2007-0504_EN.html | |||||||
| Oct | COM(2007)640 - Communication Commission: Legislative and Work Programme 2008 | Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Commission Legislative and Work Programme 2008 (see page 25 for EWC Directive revision) | https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vikqhlxb3yz0 | |||||
| May | The Seville Manifesto adopted by the 9th ETUC Congress, Seville 21-24 May 2007 | https://www.etuc.org/sites/default/files/CES-Depliant_Manifeste-EN_1.pdf | ||||||
| Strengthening Community legislation in the field of information and consultation of workers | Resolution of the European Parliament of 10 May 2007 on strengthening European legislation in the field of information and communication of workers | https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2007-0185_EN.doc | ||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| Dec | Letter to the Members European Parliament: Revision of the EWC Directive | Letter from the ETUC to the European Parliament/MEPs about revision of the EWC Directive | https://www.etuc.org/en/letter-members-european-parliament-revision-ewc-directive | |||||
| Letter of Kodak EWC regarding revision of EWC Directive | Letter from the Kodak EWC to Commissioner Spidla regarding the revision of the EWC Directive | To be completed | ||||||
| Nov | Directive 2006/109 - Adaptation of Directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a EWC or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania | Technical revision of the EWC Directive adjusting the number of members of Special Negotiating Bodies to the new situation after EU enlargement in 2007 | https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vitgbgiq12y2 | |||||
| Letter of President of IG Metall (Berthold Huber) to members of EWCs concerning the revision of the EWC Directive | To be completed | To be completed | ||||||
| Sep | EESC opinion on European Works Councils: Breathing new life into revision of the EWC Directive 94/45? | Opinion from the EESC on EWCs and revision of the EWC Directive 94/45/EC | https://econpapers.repec.org/article/saetreure/v_3a12_3ay_3a2006_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a644-645.htm | |||||
| July | Position paper of the DGB on the revision of the EWC Directive (31 July) | To be completed | ||||||
| Jun | Siemens EWC urges the European Commission to revise the EWC Directive | To be completed | ||||||
| Mar | 2005/2188(INI) Restructuring and employment | Resolution from the European Parliament (Legislative Observatory) on restructuring and employment (2005/2188(INI)) having regard to the European Commission Communication of 31 March 2005 (Restructuring and employment: Anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment: The role of the EU' (COM(2005)0120) and the opinion of the EESC of 14 December 2005 (CESE 1495/2005) | Procedure File: 2005/2188(INI) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu) | |||||
| Debate in the European Parliament on the revision of the EWC Directive 94/45/EC, session in Strasbourg, 14 March | ||||||||
| 2005 | ||||||||
| Oct | Joint seminars on European Works Councils: Description of cases presented (nb: 2005) | Eurofound feature by Mark Hall on EU social partners' issuing a joint statement on EWCs
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http://erc-online.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2005-00696-EN.pdf | |||||
| Mar | COM (2005) 120: Communication from the Commission - Restructuring and employment - Anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment: the role of the European Union | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=CELEX:52005DC0120 | ||||||
| Feb | The social agenda 2005-2010: A social Europe in the global economy : jobs and opportunities for all | Adoption by the European Commission of the Social Agenda 2005-10 (see page 6: EWC Directive revision as one of the targets) | https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d828cfc6-a9ba-449b-849f-7f92a2280892 | |||||
| Jan | Trade Union Memorandum to the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union | Memorandum from the ETUC to the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU on 10 social tests for the Presidency (see number 7 on EWC revision) | https://www.etuc.org/en/trade-union-memorandum-luxembourg-presidency-european-union | |||||
| ETUC calls for the relaunch of the EWC directive revision | Press release from ETUC about the European Commission 's launch of the first phase of Social Partner consultation on the revision of the EWC Directive, and its demand that the Commission ask for a relaunch of the revision procedure | https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/etuc-calls-relaunch-ewc-directive-revision | ||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||
| Jul | Trade union memorandum to the Dutch Presidency of the European Union | Memorandum from ETUC to the Dutch Presidency of the EU, including 10 social tests for the Presidency (see number 7 on EWC revision) | https://etuc.org/en/trade-union-memorandum-dutch-presidency-european-union | |||||
| Jun | OUR PRIORITIES: ETUC Resolutions 2004 | Priorities of the ETUC (see pages 32, 45 and 66) | https://www.etuc.org/sites/default/files/Priorites_2004_EN-3_2.pdf | |||||
| UNICE response to the European Commission's communication (letter to Commissioner Dimas) | To be completed | To be completed | ||||||
| May | Position of the German BDA, Association of Employers (Budesvereinigung der Arbeitgeber) | To be completed | To be completed | |||||
| EU englargement by 10 new EU Member States and the resulting widening of the scope fo the EWC Directive | ||||||||
| Apr | European Commission begins first stage of consultation with European social partners on possible revision of the EWC Directive | To be completed | To be completed | |||||
| Jan | ETUC sets 10 social tests for the Irish Presidency | Press release from ETUC on 10 social tests set for the Irish Presidency of the EU | https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/etuc-sets-10-social-tests-irish-presidency | |||||
| 2003 | ||||||||
Dec | ETUC strategy in view of the revision of the European Works Councils Directive | Resolution adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee, (4-5 December) and final agreement given by the Steering Committee on 13 February | https://www.epsu.org/sites/default/files/article/files/2003_ETUC_strategy_in_view_of_the_revision_of_the_European_Works_Councils_Directive.pdf | |||||
| ETUC 2003 Resolutions | Resolutions of the ETUC for 2003 (in which EWC revision is amongst the most important points on the ETUC agenda) | https://www.etuc.org/en/document/resolutions-2003-publication | ||||||
| Sep | Exploratory opinion from the European Economic and Social Committee on the EWC Directive | To be completed | To be completed | |||||
| 2002 | ||||||||
| Nov | Announcement by the European Commission (Fernando Vasquez, DG employment and Social Affairs) that the review process will be initated in Autumn 2003 | |||||||
| Sep | Resolution of the European Parliament | To be completed | To be completed | |||||
| 2000 | ||||||||