The Directive stipulates that EWCs should:

a) be established at the group level, and

b) unless wider scope is provided for in the agreements governing their powers and competences (or the scope of information and consultation procedures, if such an alternative exists at a company), cover all establishments and all group undertakings located within the Member States .

In other words, EWCs shall be established at supranational level and, at the same time, cover all the subsidiaries and establishments of that group/multinational company.