European Works Councils

The Expert Group set up by the European Commission to help Member States transpose the new Directive (EU) 2025/2450 on European Works Councils is due to submit its report this summer. This report may constitute a useful point of reference when it comes to transposing and interpreting the directive. It may also be taken into consideration by the Court of Justice.

In the meantime, the minutes of the Group’s meetings already provide an insight into the problems raised by Member States and social partners, and the responses given by the Commission. The minutes of its first meeting, held on 12 February, discuss the form taken by applications to set up an EWC: the Commission states that the directive does not exclude the submission of written requests in digital format and that, in the case of a separate submission of a request, the six-month period allowed for convening the special negotiating body shall be triggered at the time a valid request is submitted, and not by the date of receipt of the first letter.

Requirements relating to gender balance and transnational matters have also been discussed. The Commission points out that “in order to be effective, consultation must refer to decisions that have not yet been taken and whose effects have therefore not yet materialized”. The minutes of subsequent meetings (on 23 March, 13 April) will be progressively published online, on the Expert Group’s page.

(Published in IR Notes 273 – 06 May 2026)