The European Company Statute: Implications for Industrial Relations in the European Union

■ This article explores the origins and development of the EuropeanCompany Statute, with particular reference to its provisions for employeeinvolvement, both through a `representative body' and through board-levelparticipation. European companies can be seen as `hybrid' organizations in whichcommon European-level elements are combined with supplementary features derivingfrom the legislation of the country in which they are registered. The articleoutlines the types of company that have opted so far to become Europeancompanies and analyses a variety of the issues raised, including the range ofoptions that now confront management in setting up such a company, the positionof the unions and the `Europeanization' of company boards. The principalconclusions are that the Statute represents a further step in the development of`multi-level governance' of the EU, and that it will increase regulatorycompetition among the member states