EUROPEAN ELECTION 2019
 MANIFESTO

WE ARE 10 MILLION EMPLOYEE SHAREHOLDERS IN EUROPE

Today we are 10 million employee shareholders in Europe, 30 million voters including families. This is the result of vigorous growth in line with the European Union's policy whose goal for 30 years has been: "Employee share ownership for all".

However we would need to multiply that number six-fold to be comparable with the USA. Europe is still a long way from reaching its goal.

Solid evidence shows that the benefits of such a policy are significant not only for employees and businesses, but for society in general. This is what the European Parliament and the Commission have affirmed for a long time.

Today, the benefits of employee share ownership are even greater and better known: Sales and employment boosted by 2.5% a year in SMEs with employee share ownership. Only half the layoffs, bankruptcies or closings. Fewer jobs lost and therefore lower unemployment costs for the public purse. Absenteeism reduced by 51% in large companies. Hundreds of billions of Euros held by employees in European company shares. Representation of employee shareholders on the main boards of 30% of the largest companies in France...

On the other hand, 14 European countries still don't have any specific legislation for the development of employee share ownership, and lack of information and scepticism are prevalent in many of them.

Despite significant progress in Europe, the goal is still far from being achieved.

The "missing link" in European policy is well known: A European Action Plan to raise awareness and information about the benefits of employee share ownership throughout Europe. It was requested by the European Council in 2000, announced by the Commission in 2002, prepared by a Pilot Project in 2014, the need was reaffirmed through the European Parliament's Resolution of 23 October 2018, yet it has still to be put in place. This is what we are calling for.

We ask all Members of the European Parliament and candidates in the next elections to support this proposal. We invite all interested people, companies and organisations in Europe to sign up to our Manifesto.

IT'S TIME FOR EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP… IT'S TIME FOR EUROPE !