Map: Board-level representation rights in Europe
The map provides a first overview on the representation of workers on supervisory or administrative boards in Europe. In 18 out of 30 member states of the EU-27 and the European Economic Area (EEA) worker participation at board level represents a statutory element of the national corporate governance system. In 12 countries these rules concern both state-owned and private companies.
The existing forms and practices of board-level representation vary a great deal from country to country, and this variety has grown even more as a result of EU enlargement. At a first glance, the 30 countries where European Companies may be established (the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) can be divided into three groups:
- Countries with a wide-ranging system of board-level representation (i.e. where it also covers private companies): Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden
- Countries with limited experience of board-level representation (e.g. in state-owned or privatised companies): France, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain
- Countries with no regulations on board-level representation: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, United Kingdom
The country group where participation rights are widespread consists of 12 countries and is the largest group. Even in most of the 12 countries having no legal regulations, instances may be found (albeit exceptional) where worker representatives sit on the board of a company.
Participation rights vary a great deal between countries. In every member state a specific system has evolved and board-level representation is always embedded in the wider context of the national industrial relations systems and the national company law. This is also true of the ten new member states. Although legislation began to be passed only in 1990, the countries of CEE approached the establishment of national industrial relations and worker participation systems in varying ways.
