The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

Part 2: Standard rules for information and consultation

6.—(1) The competence of the representative body shall be limited to questions which concern the SE itself and any of its subsidiaries or establishments in another EEA state or which exceed the powers of the decision-making organ in a single EEA state.

(2) For the purpose of informing and consulting under sub-paragraph (1) the competent organ of the SE shall –

(a) prepare and provide to the representative body regular reports on the progress of the business of the SE and SE’s prospects;

(b) provide the representative body with the agenda for meetings of the administrative or, where appropriate, the management or supervisory organs and copies of all documents submitted to the general meeting of its shareholders;

(c) inform the representative body when there are exceptional circumstances affecting the employees' interests to a considerable extent, particularly in the event of relocations, transfers, the closure of establishments or undertakings or collective redundancies.

(3) (a) The competent organ shall, if the representative body so desires, meet with that body without prejudice to sub-paragraph (b), at least once a year to discuss the reports referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(a). The meetings shall relate in particular to the structure, economic and financial situation, the probable development of business and of production and sales, the situation and probable trend of employment, investments and substantial changes concerning organisation, introduction of new working methods or production processes, transfers of production, mergers, cut-backs or closures of undertakings, establishments or important parts thereof and collective redundancies;

(b) in the circumstances set out in sub-paragraph (2)(c), the representative body may decide, for reasons of urgency, to allow the select committee to meet the competent organ and it shall have the right to meet a more appropriate level of management within the SE rather than the competent organ itself;

(c) in the event of the competent organ not acting in accordance with the opinion expressed by the representative body, the two bodies shall meet again to seek an agreement, if the representative body so wishes.

(4) In the circumstances set out in sub-paragraph (3)(b), if the select committee attends the meeting, any other members of the representative body who represent employees who are directly concerned by the measures being discussed also have the right to participate in the meeting.

(5) Before any meeting referred to in sub-paragraph (3), the members of the representative body or the select committee, as the case may be, shall be entitled to meet without the representatives of the competent organ being present.

(6) Without prejudice to regulations 37 and 38, the members of the representative body shall inform the employees' representatives or, if no such representatives exist, the employees of the SE and its subsidiaries and establishments, of the content and outcome of the information and consultation procedures.

(7) The representative body and the select committee may be assisted by experts of its choice.

(8) The costs of the representative body shall be borne by the SE which shall provide the members of that body with financial and material resources needed to enable them to perform their duties in an appropriate manner, including (unless agreed otherwise) the cost of organising meetings, providing interpretation facilities and accommodation and travelling expenses. However, where the representative body or the select committee is assisted by more than one expert the SE is not required to pay the expenses of more than one of them.