The proposal also touches upon the freedom to conduct a business (Article 16) and on the right to property (Article 17). It does so in a justified manner: in line with the principle of proportionality the proposal's focus is on non-executive board members who – while being important actors in particular in relation to corporate governance – are not involved in the day-to-day running of operations.

31. Considers that especially in a time of financial and economic crises, often resulting in redundancy and restructuring, worker participation in the decision-making process within companies that affect their jobs and livelihoods is of the utmost importance; welcomes the recent revision of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees ; reiterates its call for the further strengthening of the functioning of European works councils as laid dow ...[+++]n in its resolution of 4 September 2001 on the application of Directive 94/45/EC ;

31. Considers that especially in a time of financial and economic crises, often resulting in redundancy and restructuring, worker participation in the decision-making process within companies that affect their jobs and livelihoods is of the utmost importance; welcomes the recent revision of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees ; reiterates its call for the further strengthening of the functioning of European works councils as laid dow ...[+++]n in its resolution of 4 September 2001 on the application of Directive 94/45/EC ;

31. Whereas especially in a time of financial and economic crises, often resulting in redundancy and restructuring, worker participation in the decision-making process within companies that effect their jobs and livelihoods is of the utmost importance; welcomes the recent revision of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees; reiterates its call for the further strengthening of the functioning of European works councils as laid down in its ...[+++]resolution of 4 September 2001 on the application of the abovementioned directive;

(3) Advice to undertakings on capital structure, industrial strategy and related matters and advice and services relating to mergers and the purchase of undertakings.

The Works Councils directive, on the other hand, applies only to multi-national enterprises.