Where the law stands, Dossier 2024/0006(COD)
Establishment and functioning of European Works Councils - effective enforcement
Amending Directive 2009/38/EC as regards the establishment and functioning of European Works Councils and the effective enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 11 December 2025 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 26 February 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 3 April 2024
- Tabled for plenary(done) 6 December 2024
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 5 June 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 9 October 2025
- Published as law(done) 11 December 2025
Decided in plenary
9 October 2025 · decision 1
Jobs, social affairs & equality, New EU law
Establishment and functioning of European Works Councils - effective enforcement
Passed 414 for · 139 against · 61 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The European Parliament adopted its position on a proposal to amend the directive on European Works Councils, aiming to improve their establishment and functioning and to ensure effective enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights.
19 December 2024 · decision 1
Jobs, social affairs & equality, New EU law
Amending Directive 2009/38/EC as regards the establishment and functioning of European Works Councils and the effective enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights
Negotiating mandate approved On the decision to open negotiations with the Council: 300 for · 254 against · 21 abstained
AI summary:The position aims to bring older agreements into the directive's scope and to improve enforcement of information and consultation rights.
What changed
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The directive expands the definition of transnational matters and strengthens gender balance requirements for European Works Councils. It increases the frequency of plenary meetings and requires in-person annual meetings, with virtual meetings only as an exception. It strengthens enforcement by adding financial penalties, exclusion from public benefits and contracts, and provisions on judicial costs and mediation. It brings pre-existing agreements under the directive and requires negotiation of addenda to align with new requirements. The other changes are formal or wording updates, including rephrasing and corrections.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Employment and Social Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Dennis Radtke (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Gabriele Bischoff (S&D), Mélanie Disdier (Patriots), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Brigitte van den Berg (Renew), Nela Riehl (Greens), Rudi Kennes (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 9 Oct 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive updates rules on European Works Councils and enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights.
Tabled for plenary· 6 Dec 2024
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive amends Directive 2009/38/EC on European Works Councils to clarify transnational matters, strengthen gender balance, improve enforcement and sanctions, and extend rights to all agreements.
Committee draft· 13 Feb 2024
AI summary:This draft report proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal to revise the European Works Councils Directive, covering the definition of transnational matters, meeting formats, resources, negotiations, confidentiality, information and consultation, enforcement, and the scope of existing agreements.
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
11 December 2025
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
26 November 2025
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 3 steps
9 October 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 9 Oct 2025 Adopted text TA10-0226/2025Report A10-0029/2024
8 October 2025
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 8 Oct 2025 Council / Commission text C9-0012/2024Report A10-0029/2024
1 October – 3 October 2025
80 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 2 steps
5 June 2025
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
19 December 2024
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 2 steps
19 December 2024
Plenary vote
6 December 2024
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 3 steps
3 April 2024
Committee vote: report adopted
EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
26 February 2024
Referred to the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
13 February 2024
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2024/0006(COD)