Europaudvalget 2011-12
EUU Alm.del Bilag 221
Offentligt
DRAFT
Brussels, December 14, 2011
Dear Colleague,With the cooperation of the European Federation of Employee Share Ownership (EFES),I am delighted to invite you to a public hearing in the European Parliament, about:"A European policy for employee ownership and participation"The hearing will take place on February 28, 2012 from 9:00 to 13:30 in Brussels.It is a continuation of the Own-initiative Opinion of the European Economic and SocialCommittee (EESC) which recently called for a new European initiative on this topic.It will bring together representatives of the Parliament, the Commission, the EuropeanEconomic and Social Committee, social partners, enterprises and experts.Please find enclosed a short presentation and the draft programme.For the practical organization, would you please confirm your participation, beforeFebruary 15 through the EFES' secretariat ([email protected]).Yours sincerely,
Pervenche BerèsChair of the Committeefor Employment and Social Affairs
Public hearing in the European ParliamentA European policy for employee ownership and participationBrussels, 28 February 2012
The financial crisis brings new political awareness about employee ownership whichincreasingly appears the best option with 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 companiesduring the last decade. 83% of all large companies have employee share plans now, comparedto only 40% ten years ago.In most cases, such plans are now designed for all employees rather than just for a smallnumber.This way, employee ownership is now in a strategic, determining or controlling position in morethan 27% of all largest European companies.However, the brakes and obstacles are still strong andthey are sources of discrimination andpoor governance in companies.Some countries remain reluctant, lacking of information and of appropriate legislation. This isparticularly true in the South of Europe and in Central and Eastern European countries.The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recently launched a call for a newEuropean initiative and it set a number of practical proposals in its Own-initiative Opinion Soc371 on employee financial participation in Europe.With regard to the European Parliament, the EESChas asked for a designated budget line tosupport the promotion of employee ownership and participation in the EU.Such a budget should help to set up and finance a European Center for Employee Ownershipin each European country, to deliver information, training and advice to employees, enterprisesand the public at large.This should also facilitate the promotion and implementation of appropriate legislation for betterdevelopment of employee ownership and participation in each country of the European Union.
Public hearing in the European ParliamentA European policy for employee ownership and participationBrussels, 28 February 2012
9.00 – 9.309.30 – 10.00
Welcome and registrationOpening and welcome speechThe Parliament and employee ownership organisations•Pervenche Berès, Chair of the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs•Guido Antolini, President, European Federation of Employee Share Ownership, ItalyCompaniesWhat companies expect from a European policy.•Max Stelzer, Voestalpine Arbeitnehmer Privatstiftung, Austria•Dominique Welcomme, Vivendi, FranceQuestions and debateBreakSocial PartnersWhat social partners expect from a European policy – the initiative of the EuropeanEconomic and Social Committee (EESC).•Alexander Graf von Schwerin, EESC Rapporteur, GermanyPromotion of employee ownership and participation in EuropeSeveral countries already set up promotion centers.•Heinrich Beyer, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Partnerschaft in der Wirtschaft, Germany•John Collison, ifs ProShare, United Kingdom•Adrian Celaya, Forum for Employee Ownership, SpainQuestions and debateA European policy and a dedicated budget line•Pervenche Berès, Chair of the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs•László Andor, European Commissioner – Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion•Michel Barnier, European Commissioner – Internal Market & Services•Representative of the EP Committee on Budgets•Representative of the EP Committee for Internal Market and Consumer Protection
10.00 – 10.30
10.30 – 10.4510.45 – 11.0011.00 – 11.15
11.15 – 12.00
12.00 - 12.1512.15 – 13.30
Public hearing in the European ParliamentA European policy for employee ownership and participationBrussels, 28 February 2012
Please fill in block capital letters and return to:EFES, Avenue Voltaire 135 - B-1030 Brussels, Fax : +32 (0)2 242 64 30 E-mail :[email protected]
REQUEST FOR INVITATIONParticipantName, Surname ………..……………….………………………………………………….……………………Position …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Organization/Company .………………………………………………………………………………………….Address …………………………………………………………….….…………………………………………..Zip code ……………….. City ……...………….……………………… Country ….…………………………...E-mail ………………………………………..………..…………………………………………………………..Phone ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Participation to the hearingAccess to the hearing will be on invitation only.Requests for invitation have to be received by the EFES secretariat before February 14, 2012.
Date:
Signature:
Public hearing at the European ParliamentA European policy for employee ownership and participationBrussels, 28 February 2012PRACTICAL INFORMATIONVenueEuropean Parliament
Instructions for access to the Parliament will be soon addressed to each participant.
LanguagesEnglish, French, German
Organisation / RegistrationMarc Mathieu, Secretary GeneralEuropean Federation of Employee Share OwnershipAvenue Voltaire 135, B-1030 BrusselsPhone/fax: +32 (0)2 242 64 30Email:[email protected]Internet:www.efesonline.org
AccommodationFor help or information :Myriam BiotMobile : +32 475 95 30 30. Fax : +32 2 242 64 30Email :[email protected]
