BusinessEurope has expressed serious concerns about the proposed revision of the European Works Council Directive published by the European Commission. In a statement, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer highlighted several key issues with the proposed changes.
Beyrer stated, "The Commission’s proposal to include agreements made before 1996 or between 2009-2011 in the Directive will damage many well-functioning European Works Councils. The renewal procedures in these agreements, allowing for mutually beneficial adaptations, should be respected."
He also pointed out another concern, saying, "Another key issue is the proposed presumption of transnationality in cases that only involve one Member State. This creates overlaps in national and European information and consultation processes and leads to legal uncertainty."
Furthermore, Beyrer expressed worries about the additional constraints placed on management during EWCs consultations, noting, "We are also concerned by the additional constraints put on management when conducting EWCs consultations, for example, by interfering with the right of management to decide what is confidential information."
Lastly, Beyrer highlighted the potential negative impact of a specific proposal, stating, "The proposal to allow Member States impose prior administrative or judicial authorisation of non-disclosure by companies would harm business competitiveness and delay companies’ decision-making."
The concerns raised by BusinessEurope underscore the potential challenges and implications of the proposed changes to the European Works Council Directive, particularly in relation to well-established social dialogue practices.