As the year draws to a close, I am grateful for the many European Works Councils, Select Committees and employee representatives I’ve had the pleasure of working with across Europe. From strategy sessions to training days and challenging consultations, it has been inspiring to see how EWCs continue to develop their role, strengthen their voice…
(Spoiler alert: not quite.) I guess it’s that time of the year again: The revised European Works Council Directive (EU) 2025/2450 has been published in the EU Official Journal, on 11 December 2025. Nearly a year after the European Parliament voted to improve the EWC Directive … After years of debate, this is the text Member States will…
During a training this week, I asked a simple question: “Who should be informed first — the EWC or the local council/union?” The answers were all over the place. Different laws, different timelines, different realities. And here’s what I see in practice: Local bodies often don’t receive the full picture early enough. Not because they’re not important,…
At Pemota Consultancy, we have been involved in quite a lot of divestitures lately. Previously, we outlined five essential points for a successful divestiture. Successful for the employees as well as for the seller and the buyer. When CPW, a joint venture of General Mills and Nestlé, recently decided they had to cut back on…
In May 2025 the European Parliament formally agreed on the revised and improved Directive and it is expected that the final adoption procedure will take in the course of this year. This means that workers in multinational companies are getting a stronger say in their workplaces. Clearly good news for the workers. But what about the…
In addition to the newly agreed 15% Trump tariffs and the growing uncertainty surrounding global supply chains, there is another development that will undoubtedly impact employees: Artificial Intelligence (AI). And just like with the Trump Tariffs, it is certain that AI will have a significant effect, but it’s far from clear where how and when…
As Europe winds down for summer, President Trump has again raised the stakes—this time striking a framework trade deal with the EU over the weekend. Under the agreement, most European exports to the U.S. will face a 15 % tariff, down from an initially threatened 30 %–50 % range. While this lowers the immediate risk of a full-blown…
The value (and joy) of a verified reviewThese days there is a lot of discussion about the value of online reviews.A good review is a wonderful thing. Both for the companies that receive such a review as well as for the prospective customers that are looking for a reliable partner. Logically it follows that a…
There is a reason that I have been working with European Works Councils for over 26 years now. Well, actually, there are more reasons than one. For starters: European Works Councils are challenging. In a good way, that is.The stakes are high and the discussions are often quite complex and laced with a range of sensitivities….
