The ETUC played a very active part in bringing about the 2002 EU Directive on information and consultation, setting a European framework for workers to have the right to be informed and express their views on company decisions such as restructuring and mergers.

Involving workers in company decisions not only represents an important element of the European Social Model but also makes good economic sense in modern economies. Worker involvement in European Companies (SE) and Cooperative Societies (SCE) built a cornerstone at transnational level.

Research has demonstrated that informing and consulting employees and their representatives about company policy and activities improves both the quality of decisions and their implementation.

The websites developed by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI): www.worker-participation.eu gives you access to what is happening at European level in this field and provides you with information on the national background to industrial relations in each of the 27 EU member states.

The ETUC runs an Information and Observation Point, also referred to as the INFOPOINT, which delivers the following services:

 providing technical assistance to social partners in the utilisation of the EC 04030303 budget line (funding for European projects in the field of worker’s rights to information, consultation and participation at company-level)

 observing and disseminating information on the implementation of the ‘acquis communautaire’ concerning workers’ information, consultation and participation at company-level (via the PaRL newsletter, among others).

Further information

The ETUC website provides information on a number of policy activities that the confederation develops in the field of workers’ participation, information and consultation. This information can be accessed either by topic or type of document at the following links: