On Tuesday 3 December 2024, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament finally voted in favour of starting ‘trilogue’ negotiations with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union on a revision of the 2009/38 European Works Councils (EWC) Directive. The legislative process started on 24 January 2024, with the European Commission publishing a proposal for a revised Directive. 

The negotiations between the three European institutions are expected to start early 2025, when Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The objective is to reach an agreement on a compromise text, which will then be submitted for final approval to the Parliament and the Council. 

That should finally, result in a revised Directive with more effective and enforceable information and consultation rights in multinational companies 

Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary said:

“With massive restructuring cases underway across our different sectors, putting thousands of jobs at risk, there is no time to waste. European Works Councils’ rights must be reinforced, so they can play their full role and have a real impact on the decisions that are being prepared. Negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should start without further delay.”

Policy makers must urgently stand for for workers’ rights and respond to the need for more democracy at work.