Statute for a European company: involvement of employees

The committee adopted the report by Winfried MENRAD (EPP-EP, D) amending the proposal under the consultation procedure. Firstly, it felt that Article 137(3) rather than Article 308 would be a more appropriate legal base since the directive concerned the representation and collective defence of the interests of workers. The committee also pointed out that the directive provided only minimum standards for information, consultation and participation of workers. MEPs argued that after substantial structural changes, such as mergers, employees should be given an opportunity for new negotiations on their future participation. In order to avoid having 15 different sets of implementing provisions in the various Member States, the transposition of the directive should be coordinated by setting up an implementing group comprising experts from Member States. The committee also wanted to streamline the definition and scope of participation. Lastly, it said that the procedure for electing employees' representatives to a European Company's administrative or supervisory body should follow existing practice or legal provisions in individual Member States.�