Part Two: Collective labour relations

Prior to the meetings, the employees’ representatives on the European Works Council or the officers, where applicable enlarged in accordance with Article L. 2343-4, may meet without the company management representatives being present.

The staff delegation of the European Works Council shall inform the staff representatives of the establishments or undertakings of a Community-scale group of undertakings or, in the absence of representatives, all employees, of the content and results of the information and consultation procedure implemented in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, in compliance with the provisions relating to professional secrecy and the obligation of discretion.

The European Works Council and its officers may be assisted by experts of their choice. The company or the dominant company in the Community-scale group of companies will pay the costs of an expert.

The operating expenses of the European Works Council are borne by the dominant undertaking or undertaking in the Community-scale group of undertakings. The members of the European Works Council are provided with the material and financial resources they need to carry out their duties. In particular, unless otherwise agreed, the company will bear the costs of organising meetings and interpreting, as well as the accommodation and travel expenses of the…

The employer shall allow the secretary and the officers of the European Works Council the time necessary to carry out their duties up to a limit which, save in exceptional circumstances, may not exceed one hundred and twenty hours per year for each of them. This time is considered as working time and is paid at the normal rate. The time spent by the secretary and the members of the…

Time spent in meetings by members of the European Works Council is considered as working time and paid at the normal rate.

Documents sent to employee representatives include a French version.

Four years after the establishment of the European Works Council in the cases provided for in Article L. 2343-1, the European Works Council shall examine whether it should be renewed or whether negotiations should be undertaken with a view to concluding the agreement referred to in Articles L. 2342-2 and L. 2342-9. In the latter case, the members of the committee form the special negotiation group authorised to conclude the…

Where a group of undertakings has set up a European Works Council, the agreement referred to in Article L. 2342-2 or an agreement reached within the group may decide to adapt the conditions under which the Group Works Council operates. The agreement will only come into force if the Group Works Council votes in favour.