UK: BERR consultation on proposed changes to the European Works Council Directive (94/45/EC)

Earlier this year the European Commission published proposed changes to the European Works Council Directive (94/45/EC). The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has now published a consultation paper with regard to the Commission's proposals, the closing date for responses being 6 October 2008. This does not provide much time; the reasons for this short consultation period are explained in the consultation paper (p. 3):

The French Presidency and the European Commission are seeking political agreement from the Member States and the European Parliament on the revision of the EWC Directive by December 2008. The Commission's proposals will therefore be subject to early and detailed consideration by the Council this autumn, starting with Working Group meetings scheduled for mid-September".