Introduction


This project, entitled Small Countries for European Works Councils – European Actions for the Promotion of European Works Councils among multinational undertakings in small European and new member states, aims to promote European Works Councils as ideal tools for the promotion and facilitation of information dissemination, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings. In this respect, the aim of this project runs parallel to the aims of the European Community in this respect as outlined in Directive 94/45.

The initiatives of this project are geared for small and new EU member states, specifically Malta, Estonia and Cyprus. These countries where chosen on the grounds of being new EU member states, small and the community scale undertakings are relatively few in number. In terms of raising awareness, this Project envisages a series of promotional activities designed to promote the concept of European Works Councils, in the various economic sectors. As for education, this Project involves a one-day long training seminar to take place in each partner country designed to provide detailed and practical information on how European Works Councils are established and run.

The Partnership shall be made up of three trade union organisations and labour NGO’s in Mediterranean and Baltic State Countries namely Malta, Estonia and Cyprus. These organisations where chosen on specific criteria namely, geography, size and membership status. The General Worker’s Union of Malta represents the south region, while the SEK of Cyprus represents the eastern Mediterranean region. The EAKL of Estonia represents the north-eastern, post-Communist block of the region. All the partner organisations are very actively involved in social dialogue in their respective countries and all work in liaison with representatives of undertakings in their work. Also, all three countries are new EU member states and are all small countries with economies in a state of transition.


Policy Relevance

This project is intended to aid the Community’s commitment to improve the right to information and to consultation of employees in Community-scale undertakings. This commitment is spelt out in Directive 94/45 and extended by Directive 97/74 in which the European Community directs EU member states to put in place European Works Councils or standardized procedures for informing and consulting employees shall be established in every Community-scale undertaking.

This project shall also ensure that other Community commitments, particularly those towards trans-national cooperation, equality, social inclusion and workers mobility, shall be adequately promoted. Also, the horizontal continuity and consistency between the various EU policies on employment, social affairs and equal opportunities shall be emphasized in every activity of this project.

In line with these Community commitments, this project seeks to promote Information Consultation and Participation of representatives of undertakings, and European Works Councils in particular as tools towards the overall objectives of a European employment policy.