Here it is! - The new EU Directive on European Works Councils is in force

On 5 June 2009 the procedure for the revision of the EU Directive on European Works Councils has finally been completed. Problems with the translation of the law had led to further delays. On 23 April 2009 the final decision was taken by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament subsequently signed the new directive on 6 May 2009, and on 16 May 2009, it was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and officially entered into force twenty days later.

26 of 27 governments voted in favour of the legislative text, the British Labor government, however, abstained from voting, again. Thus, the new Directive is valid in all countries of the European internal market, i.e. in the United Kingdom as well as in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The European Works Councils can now re-negotiate their existing EWC agreements.