New EWC rules: prepare now, take your time, and do not go it alone

European Works Councils face new EU rules and weaker EU sustainability laws, and industriAll Europe work with its affiliates to help EWC members respond. At the recent EWC Platform of its Dutch affiliate FNV, we advised EWC members to prepare their agreements for the new rules without rushing, and to use existing sustainability laws to put social and environmental risks on the agenda.

With new EU rules on European Works Councils (EWCs) on the way, employee representatives across Europe want clear answers on what will change. We, industriAll Europe, work with our affiliates to provide such answers, bringing European expertise, trade union tools and our network directly to EWC members. On 30 October 2026, for example, we took part in the EWC Platform of our Dutch affiliate FNV. The platform brings together EWC members twice a year, and around 25 representatives took part this time.

The Netherlands has one of the highest concentrations of EWCs in Europe. Some 40 EWCs are governed by Dutch law, and many Dutch representatives also sit on EWCs governed by the law of other EU countries. The visit showed the importance of this kind of direct contact for EWC members as it gives them access for support at EU level and a direct line to our network.

Prepare now, but take your time

The revised EWC Directive sets the rules on how multinational companies must inform and consult their European employee representatives. Every EU country must write it into national law by 1 January 2028, and the Netherlands is now preparing to do so.

The new rules do not yet apply to all of their EWCs, but FNV’s EWC members already had many questions about them. The questions reflected what they face in their EWCs every day:

How far can management declare EWC discussions confidential, and how can EWCs stop it from applying confidentiality too broadly?
When is an issue transnational and a matter for the EWC, rather than a local one?
How should employee involvement at European and national level work together in practice?

The Dutch representatives were clearly motivated to improve their own EWC agreements. IndustriAll Europe advised them to prepare now but take their time, and to seek trade union advice at every step. We also pointed them to the European Trade Union Federations’ recommendation and checklist, which show how to adapt EWC agreements to the new rules. With the deadline more than a year away, there is no need to rush.

Sustainability rules are weaker, but still in force

The EU has recently cut back its rules on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDDD), which requires companies to identify and address harm to people and the environment. IndustriAll Europe told FNV’s EWC members that the political climate is not in our favour, but these rules still apply. EWCs should not hesitate to use them and put responsible business conduct on the agenda when management informs and consults them.

The Dutch representatives showed clear interest in taking this up, with a focus on the environmental and social risks in their own companies. Some of their EWCs already have these topics on the agenda.

Notes:
Revised European Works Council Directive (EU) 2025/2450 [LINK]
European Trade Union Federations’ recommendation and checklist for adapting EWC agreements [LINK for members only]
The ABC of Responsible Business Conduct [LINK]