The European Works Councils – a role beyond the EC Directive?

This paper presents the main results of a research project which analysed the ‘inner life’ of the European Works Council (EWC), that is, the structures and processes of communication and patterns of interaction within EWCs, and between EWCs and other actors such as trade union organisations, company-level employee representatives and management. The project set out to be a qualitative investigation into the processes of communication and interaction which condition and influence the functioning of EWCs. It involved systematic case study research into the interests, motives, expectations and perceptions of the actors involved and the barriers to socio-cultural interaction which characterise the operation of EWCs. Furthermore, the project examined the concrete activities performed by EWCs in order to identify their actual role. The latter part of the analysis deals with the development of EWC activities over time, with specific reference to the involvement of Italian unions in EWCs. This paper argues that, under certain conditions, EWCs take on a role which goes beyond the tasks defined by the European Directive.