Interview with EU Commissioner Vladimír pidla
Question: What role does the European Works Council Directive play in the new work programme of the European
Commission and for you as the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities?
pidla: Submitting a proposal for a revision of the European Works Councils Directive is one of the priorities of the
Commission for 2008. I personally and the Commission as a whole attach great importance to European works councils (EWC),
particularly in anticipating and managing change and in developing European partnerships at corporate level. Currently
there are roughly 850 EWC in Europe, covering 14.5 million workers a significant number!
Where active, EWCs contribute to improving corporate governance in large transnational undertakings, a key factor for
their sustainable competitiveness. However, we know that EWCs are not properly informed and consulted in a large number
of restructuring cases. We also know that there are some legal uncertainties in the application of the directive, notably
as regards the relationship between national and transnational levels of dialogue and the consequences of mergers and
acquisitions. I am convinced that we need to find effective ways to ensure timely and effective transnational workers'
information and consultation and to enhance social dialogue at corporate level, for the sake of both workers and companies.
Question: The Commission will start a further consultation round on the review of the EWC Directive. What are the most
important motivations to the hearings and what is the Commissions focus within this process?
pidla: A proposal for a revised EWC directive would have the objectives of ensuring the effectiveness of transnational
information and consultation rights and greater coherence between Community legal instruments and of resolving the
problems and legal uncertainties encountered. I will thus propose to the Commission to launch the so-called second stage
consultation of the social partners on the revision of the European Works Councils Directive early in 2008, a
pre-condition for the revised directive. Under this process, unions and employers' organisations will be able to express
their views before the Commission's proposal is submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council.
The problems we are trying to fix are the ones I just described, mainly shortcomings in effective consultation and legal
uncertainties. We also have to take into account the fact that the legislative context as regards employee involvement has
strongly developed over recent years, by the adoption of a series of directives including Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community.
Question: What time frame would be realistic for the revision of EWC directive?
pidla: We intend to issue the legislative proposal for the revised EWC directive as soon as the consultation of the
social partners on its envisaged content is closed and the appropriate impact assessment is done. This needs some months
but we should come through the process in 2008. Once the legislative proposal is adopted by the Commission, the
legislative process will start. It is very difficult to say how long it will take for the European Parliament and the
Council to agree on this piece of legislation. I would hope that we can see a definitive result in the course of 2009.
Question: What would be further measures in order to ensure the implementation of a revised directive?
pidla: The application and enforcement of Community law involves many actors the European institutions, the Member
States, including local and regional authorities and courts. The Commission recently adopted a Communication "A
Europe of results - applying Community law" which suggests ways to improve the application of Community law.
But we are not yet at the stage of implementing and applying the revised directive, we are at the stage of designing it.
We consider that the present problems faced in EWCs' operations are linked to inappropriate practices in companies as well
as to shortcomings in the present directive rather than to failures by the Member States to implement the directive. The
content of the revision should therefore be aimed at addressing the shortcomings identified in the directive so as to
ensure the effectiveness of transnational information and consultation rights.
But, you know, it is not just about legislation. The change starts in the mind. If we want to make this a success for
workers and European economy, things need to change at company level. So, a hands-on approach and the exchange of best
practice between social partners will be crucial.
Question: What role do other DGs like DG enterprise play in the revision process?
pidla: The Commission works as a College. The initiative to revise the European Works Council Directive is a priority
for the whole Commission. This was underlined by President Barroso recently when addressing a plenary session of the
European Parliament. So, the know-how of all relevant DGs will be needed and DG Employment will work in close
co-operation with all of them, notably with DG Enterprise.
For example: the revision of the EWC Directive is also a core element in the social dimension of the internal market, as
it stems from the recent Communication of the Commission "A single market for 21st century Europe". Moreover,
amending a directive in order to make it more efficient comes under the general rules on "better regulation"
which guide the actions of the whole Commission. As to the Commission's services, all initiatives are preceded by
inter-service consultations and the impact assessment process also involves different Directorates-General.
Vladimír pidla was chairman of the Social-democratic Party, Minister for Labour and Social affairs and Prime Minister
of the Czech Republic. Since 2004 he is member of the European Commission.
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Vladimír pidla was interviewed by Kathleen Kollewe on December 17th, 2007.
