The managers of the companies participating in the formation of the European Company shall invite the special negotiating body to meet and to this end shall inform the staff representatives and the managers of the establishments and subsidiaries concerned, who in the absence of staff representatives shall inform the employees directly, of the identity of the participating companies and the number of employees they comprise.
Negotiations begin as soon as the special negotiating body is set up. They may continue for the following six months, unless the parties decide, by mutual agreement, to extend these negotiations, the total duration of which may not exceed one year.
During this period, the Special Negotiation Body shall be regularly informed of the process of creating the European Company.