The European Commission has finally made its evaluation study on the implementation of recast Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council available online. The report had been set to serve as the basis for EU Commission work on the topic. A certain number of the study’s elements, which some say are now outdated since the report dates back to 2016, are worthy of attention. Although a more heavy-weight Directive, it has not been able to hold to its promises: no additional EWCs have been set up, there has been no significant change in practices, and no real improvement in workers’ representatives’ rights has been forthcoming.
Previously we exclusively covered the recommendations from this report which were meant to serve as the basis for the European Commission’s own evaluation of the impact of this recast Directive (c.f. article No. 9723). In May 2017 the EU Commission announced that instead of a new revision to the Directive, it was going to draft a ‘practical guide’ (c.f. article No. 10676). Nonetheless publication of this 2016 report, albeit dated, does highlight certain weaknesses in the impact the Directive has had in terms of arrangements for worker information and consultation at a European level.
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