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"The
Presidency of the European Union supports employee ownership
and participation" was the theme of the conference
held in Brussels on November 23, 2001 thanks to the previous
Belgian Presidency of the EU. Ten years later, the new Belgian
Presidency of the European Union comes at the right moment
to crystallize the new trends.
The financial crisis brings new political awareness about
employee ownership which increasingly appears the best option
for its contribution to healthier corporate governance,
long term vision and stability. Furthermore, employee buyouts
are multiplying for business transmission or rescue plans.
It is a fact that employee share ownership developed strongly
among European companies during the last decade. 83% of
all large companies have employee share plans now, compared
to only 40% ten years ago. In most cases, such plans are
now designed for all employees rather than just for a small
number. This way, employee ownership is now in a strategic,
determining or controlling position in over 25% of all largest
European companies.
Two years ago, the European Federation of Employee Share
Ownership (EFES) defined a "political roadmap for employee
ownership in Europe" in the framework of the French
Presidency of the European Union.
Proposals were later made by the EFES following the election
of the new European Parliament. These proposals received
positive attention from many Members of the Parliament from
all political parties.
Finally, the EFES addressed its proposals to the new European
Commissioners, encouraging them to take a wider vision of
cross-disciplinary aspects of employee ownership within
the European Commission. Positive signals about this have
already been received from direct contacts with new Commissioners
Laszlo Andor for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion,
and Michel Barnier for Internal Market & Services.
The
financial crisis brings new political awareness about employee
ownership which increasingly appears the best option for
its contribution to healthier corporate governance, long
term vision and stability. Furthermore, employee buyouts
are multiplying for business transmission or rescue plans.
The Belgian Presidency of the European Union comes to the
right moment to crystallize the new Parliament's and
Commission's thoughts along year 2010.
This
is also true for governments and social partners. Several
countries decided or are discussing enhanced promotion of
employee ownership e.g. Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK.
Consideration of employee ownership options looks to be
taking a positive turn among social partners, - the German
union IG Metall recently expressed the idea that "the best
shareholders are employees" ("Arbeitnehmer sind die besseren
Aktionäre").
The
conference of the next Belgian Presidency of the European
Union will be held on November 26, 2010. It is aimed to
gather representatives of the European institutions, governments,
social partners, companies and experts.
Location:
Brussels
Organised
by: European Federation of Employee Share Ownership
Website:
http://www.efesonline.org
Where: Congress Palace - The Arc, Rue Ravenstein
2, 1000 Brussels
Available
Services: WIFI, parking
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