Section 4: Operation.

The European Works Council has legal personality. It is chaired by the head of the undertaking or of the dominant undertaking in the Community-scale group. The committee appoints a secretary. It elects a bureau of a maximum of five members, which benefits from material conditions enabling it to carry out its activities on a regular basis.

The European Works Council adopts rules of procedure which set out its operating procedures. These rules of procedure may provide for consideration to be given to the repercussions on the European Works Council of changes in the structure or size of the Community-scale undertaking or group of undertakings. Such changes may be discussed at the annual meeting of the committee.

The annual meeting of the European Works Council is convened by its Chairman on the basis of a report drawn up by him. This report describes the development of the activities of the Community-scale undertaking or Community-scale group of undertakings and its prospects. The directors of the establishments or the heads of the undertakings in the group are informed of this report.

The agenda for the annual meeting of the European Works Council is drawn up by the Chairman and the Secretary. It is communicated to the members of the committee at least fifteen days before the meeting. In the absence of agreement on the content of the agenda, it is set by the chairman and communicated to the members of the committee at least ten days before the date of the…

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.