Communication from the Commission: EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring

On 13 December 2013, the European Commission adopted a communication concerning an “EU quality framework for the anticipation of change and restructuring”. This document disappoints those members of the European Parliament who were expecting the Commission to propose a “legislative act”. It merely recycles, in shorter form, something that the Commission has already published with its “Checklist on restructuring processes”. This document, like the checklist before it, may encourage companies to negotiate agreements intended to provide a framework for restructuring processes. The Commission has said that it “will examine whether it is appropriate to revise it between now and 2016”, thus making 2015 a pivotal year, because the Commission will be presenting its proposal aimed at “consolidating the information and consultation directives”, as announced in its “Refit” communication of 2 October 2013. Before 5 June 2015, it must also produce a report on the application of directive 2009/38 on European Works Councils. This means that there will be opportunities to examine the role of information and consultation in planning restructuring processes (Source: IR Notes 1 – 15 January 2014).