Council Directive 2003/72/EC

Id-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 2003/72/KE

of 22 July 2003

tat-22 ta’ Lulju 2003

supplementing the Statute for a European Cooperative Society with regard to the involvement of employees

li tissupplimenta l-Istatut għal Soċjetà Kooperattiva Ewropea fir-rigward tal-involviment ta’ l-impjegati

IL-KUNSILL TA’ L-UNJONI EWROPEA

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Wara li kkunsidra t-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea, u b’mod partikolari l-Artikolu 308 tiegħu,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,

Wara li kkunsidra l-proposta mill-Kummissjoni [1],

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew [2],

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),

Wara li kkunsidra l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali Ewropew [3],

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(3),

Billi:

Whereas:

(1) Sabiex jinkisbu l-għanijiet tat-Trattat, ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 1435/2003 [4] jistabbilixxi Statut għal Soċjetà Kooperattiva Ewropea (SCE).

(1) In order to attain the objectives of the Treaty, Council Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003(4) establishes a Statute for a European Cooperative Society (SCE).

(2) Dak ir-Regolament jimmira li joħloq qafas uniformi legali li fih kooperattivi u entitajiet oħra u persuni naturali minn Stati Membri differenti għandhom ikunu jistgħu jippjanaw u jwettqu ir-riorganizzazzjoni tan-negozju tagħhom f’forma kooperattiva fuq skala tal-Komunità.

(2) That Regulation aims at creating a uniform legal framework within which cooperatives and other entities and natural persons from different Member States should be able to plan and carry out the reorganisation of their business in cooperative form on a Community scale.

(3) Sabiex jiġu promossi l-għanijiet soċjali tal-Komunità, dispożizzjonijiet speċjali għandhom ikunu stipulati, notevolment fil-qasam ta’ l-involviment ta’ l-impjiegi, immirati li jassiguraw li l-istabbiliment ta’ SCE ma jinvolvix l-għajbien jew it-tnaqqis ta’ prattiċi ta’ l-involviment ta’ l-impjegat li jesiġu fi ħdan entitajiet li jipparteċipaw fl-istabbiliment ta’ SCE. Dan l-għan għandu jkun segwit permezz ta’ l-istabbiliment ta’ sett ta’ regoli f’dan il-qasam, li jissupplimentaw id-dispożizzjonijiet tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 1435/2003.

(3) In order to promote the social objectives of the Community, special provisions have to be set, notably in the field of employee involvement, aimed at ensuring that the establishment of an SCE does not entail the disappearance or reduction of practices of employee involvement existing within the entities participating in the establishment of an SCE. This objective should be pursued through the establishment of a set of rules in this field, supplementing the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003.

(4) Minħabba li l-għanijiet ta’ l-azzjoni proposta, kif delineati hawn fuq, ma jistgħux jinkisbu suffiċjentement mill-Istati Membri, minħabba li l-għan huwa li jiġi stabbilit sett ta’ regoli dwar l-involviment ta’ l-impjegati applikabbli għall-SCE, u jistgħu għalhekk, minħabba l-iskala u l-impatt ta’ l-azzjoni proposta, jinkisbu aħjar fil-livell tal-Komunità, il-Komunità tista’ tadotta miżuri, skond il-prinċipju tas-sussidjarjetà kif stipulat fl-Artikolu 5 tat-Trattat. Skond il-prinċipju tal-proporzjonalità, kif stipulat f’dak l-Artikolu, din id-Direttiva ma tmurx lil hinn minn dak li huwa meħtieġ biex jinkisbu dawn l-għanijiet.

(4) Since the objectives of the proposed action, as outlined above, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, in that the object is to establish a set of rules on employee-involvement applicable to the SCE, and can therefore, by reason of the scale and impact of the proposed action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve these objectives.

(5) Id-diversità kbira ta’ regoli u prattiċi li jeżistu fl-Istati Membri fir-rigward tal-mod li bih ir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati huma involuti fit-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet fi ħdan kooperattivi tagħmilha mhux konsiljabbli li jkun stabbilit mudell wieħed Ewropew ta’ involviment ta’ impjegati applikabbli għall-SCE.

(5) The great diversity of rules and practices existing in the Member States as regards the manner in which employees' representatives are involved in decision-making within cooperatives makes it inadvisable to set up a single European model of employee involvement applicable to the SCE.

(6) Proċeduri ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni f’livell transnazzjonali għandhom ikunu assigurati fil-każi kollha tal-ħolqien ta’ SCE, bl-addattazzjoni meħtieġa li l-SCE jiffurmaw ex novo fejn dan ikun iġġustifikat mid-daqs tagħhom, kif imkejjel f’termini ta’ impjiegi.

(6) Information and consultation procedures at transnational level should be ensured in all cases of creation of an SCE, with the necessary adaptation for SCEs formed ex novo where this is justified by their size, as measured in terms of employment.

(7) Jekk jesiġu drittijiet ta’ parteċipazzjoni fi ħdan entità waħda jew aktar li jistabbilixxu SCE, għandhom fil-prinċipju jiġu ppriservati permezz tat-trasferiment tagħhom għal SCE, la darba stabbilita, sakemm il-partijiet ma jiddeċidux mod ieħor.

(7) If participation rights exist within one or more entities establishing an SCE, they should in principle be preserved through their transfer to the SCE, once established, unless the parties decide otherwise.

(8) Il-proċeduri konkreti għall-informazzjoni transnazzjonali u konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati, kif ukoll, fejn japplika, il-parteċipazzjoni, li japplikaw għal kull SCE għandhom ikunu definiti primarjament permezz ta’ ftehim bejn il-partijiet ikkonċernati jew, fin-nuqqas ta’ dan, permezz ta’ l-applikazzjoni ta’ sett ta’ regoli sussidjarji.

(8) The concrete procedures of employee transnational information and consultation, as well as, if applicable, participation, to apply to each SCE should be defined primarily by means of an agreement between the parties concerned or, in the absence thereof, through the application of a set of subsidiary rules.

(9) L-Istati Membri xorta tibqgħalhom l-għażla li ma japplikawx ir-regoli standardli jirrelataw mal-partiċipazzjoni fil-każ ta’ inkorporazzjoni, minħabba d-diversità tas-sistemi nazzjonali għall-involviment ta’ l-impjegati. Is-sistemi eżistenti u prattiċi tal-parteċipazzjoni fejn xieraq fil-livell ta’ entitajiet li jipparteċipaw għandhom f’dak il-każ jinżammu mir-regoli tar-reġistrazzjoni li jaddattaw.

(9) Member States should still have the option of not applying the standard rules relating to participation in the case of a merger, given the diversity of national systems for employee involvement. Existing systems and practices of participation where appropriate at the level of participating entities must in that case be maintained by adapting registration rules.

(10) Ir-regoli tal-votazzjoni fi ħdan il-korp speċjali li jirrappreżenta lill-impjegati għall-għanijiet ta’ negozjati, b’mod partikolari meta jiġu konklużi patti ta’ ftehim li jipprovdu għal livell ta’ parteċipazzjoni aktar baxxa minn dik eżistenti fi ħdan entità waħda li tipparteċipa jew aktar, għandhom ikunu proporzjonati għar-riskju ta’ l-għejbien jew it-tnaqqis ta’ sistemi eżistenti u prattiċi ta’ parteċipazzjoni. Dak ir-riskju huwa akbar fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita permezz ta’ trasformazzjoni jew inkorporazzjoni milli permezz tal-ħolqien ta’ ex novo SCE.

(10) The voting rules within the special body representing the employees for negotiation purposes, in particular when concluding agreements providing for a level of participation lower than the one existing within one or more of the participating entities, should be proportionate to the risk of disappearance or reduction of existing systems and practices of participation. That risk is greater in the case of an SCE established by way of transformation or merger than by way of creating an ex novo SCE.

(11) Fin-nuqqas ta’ ftehim sussegwenti għan-negozjati bejn ir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati u l-organi kompetenti ta’ l-entitajiet li jipparteċipaw, dispożizzjoni għandha ssir għal ċerti regoli standardli japplikaw għall-SCE, ġaladarba tiġi stabbilita. Dawn ir-regoli standardgħandhom jassiguraw prattiċi effettivi ta’ informazzjoni transnazzjonali u konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati, kif ukoll il-parteċipazzjoni tagħhom fl-organi relevanti ta’ l-SCE jekk dik il-parteċipazzjoni kienet teżisti qabel l-istabbiliment tagħha fi ħdan l-entitajiet li jipparteċipaw.

(11) In the absence of an agreement subsequent to the negotiation between employees' representatives and the competent organs of the participating entities, provision should be made for certain standard rules to apply to the SCE, once it is established. These standard rules should ensure effective practices of transnational information and consultation of employees, as well as their participation in the relevant organs of the SCE if such participation existed before its establishment within the participating entities.

(12) Fejn l-applikazzjoni tal-proċeduri msemmija hawn fuq għall-entitajiet li jipparteċipaw fl-ex novo SCE ma jistgħux jiġu ġġustifikati minħabba d-daqs żgħir tagħhom kif imkejjel f’termini ta’ impjiegi, l-SCE għandha tkun suġġetta għar-regoli nazzjonali dwar l-involviment ta’ impjegati fis-seħħ fl-Istat Membru fejn tistabbilixxi l-uffiċju rreġistrat tagħha, jew fl-Istat Membru fejn ikollha sussidjarji jew stabbilimenti. Dan għandu jkun mingħajr preġudizzju għall-obbligazzjoni mqiegħda fuq SCE diġà stabbilita li timplimenta dawn il-proċeduri jekk numru sinifikanti ta’ impjegati hekk jitolbu.

(12) When application of the abovementioned procedures to the entities participating in the ex novo SCE cannot be justified because of their small size as measured in terms of employment, the SCE should be subject to the national rules on the involvement of employees in force in the Member State where it establishes its registered office, or in the Member States where it has subsidiaries or establishments. This should be without prejudice to the obligation placed on an SCE already established to implement these procedures if a significant number of employees so requests.

(13) Dispożizzjonijiet speċifiċi għandhom japplikaw għall-parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati f’laqgħat ġenerali, sal-limitu li l-liġijiet nazzjonali hekk jippermettu. L-applikazzjoni ta’ dawn id-dispożizzjonijiet ma tipprekludix l-applikazzjoni ta’ forom oħra ta’ parteċipazzjoni, hekk kif ipprovdut f’din id-Direttiva.

(13) Specific provisions should apply to employee participation in general meetings, in so far as national laws so allow. The application of these provisions does not preclude the application of other forms of participation, as provided for in this Directive.

(14) L-Istati Membri għandhom jassiguraw permezz ta’ dispożizzjonijiet adatti li, fil-każ ta’ bidliet strutturali wara l-ħolqien ta’ SCE, l-arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ l-impjegati jistgħu, fejn xieraq, jiġu nnegozjati mill-ġdid.

(14) Member States should ensure through appropriate provisions that, in the case of structural changes following the creation of an SCE, the arrangements for the involvement of employees can, where appropriate, be renegotiated.

(15) Għandha ssir dispożizzjoni għar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati li jaġixxu fi ħdan il-qafas ta’ din id-Direttiva li jgawdu, meta jeżerċitaw il-funzjonijiet tagħhom, l-istess protezzjoni u garanziji bħal dawk ipprovduti għal rappreżentanti ta’ impjegati bil-leġislazzjoni u/jew prattika tal-pajjiż ta’ l-impjieg. M’għandhomx ikunu suġġetti għal xi diskriminazzjoni, inkluż kedd, bħala riżultat ta’ l-eżerċizzju legali ta’ l-attivitajiet tagħhom u għandhom igawdu protezzjoni adegwata fir-rigward tat-tkeċċija u sanzjonijiet oħra.

(15) Provision should be made for the employees' representatives acting within the framework of this Directive to enjoy, when exercising their functions, the same protection and guarantees as those provided for employees' representatives by the legislation and/or practice of the country of employment. They should not be subject to any discrimination, including harassment, as a result of the lawful exercise of their activities and should enjoy adequate protection as regards dismissal and other sanctions.

(16) Il-kunfidenzjalità ta’ informazzjoni sensittiva għandha tkun priservata wkoll wara li jiskadu t-termini ta’ uffiċċju tar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati, u dispożizzjoni għandha ssir li tkun tippermetti lill-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE li jżomm informazzjoni li tista’ tagħmel ħsara serja, jekk suġġetta għal kxif fil-pubbliku, lill-iffunzjonar ta’ l-SCE.

(16) The confidentiality of sensitive information should be preserved even after the expiry of the terms of office of the employees' representatives, and provision should be made to allow the competent organ of the SCE to withhold information which would seriously harm, if subject to public disclosure, the functioning of the SCE.

(17) Fejn SCE u s-sussidjarji u l-istabbilimenti tagħha huma suġġetti għad-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 94/45/KE tat-22 ta’ Settembru 1994 dwar l-istabbiliment tal-Kunsill Ewropew tax-Xogħlijiet jew proċedura f’impriżi fi skala tal-Komunità jew gruppi ta’ impriżi fi skala tal-Komunità għall-għanijiet ta’ l-informazzjoni u l-konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati [5], id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ dik id-Direttiva u d-dispożizzjonijiet li jittrasponuha f’leġislazzjoni nazzjonali m’għandhomx japplikaw għaliha lanqas għas-sussidjarji u l-istabbilimenti tagħha, sakemm il-korp speċċjali ta’ negozjati ma jiddeċidix li ma jiftaħx negozjati jew li jittermina n-negozjati diġà miftuħa.

(17) Where an SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments are subject to 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(5), the provisions of that Directive and the provisions transposing it into national legislation should not apply to it nor to its subsidiaries and establishments, unless the special negotiating body decides not to open negotiations or to terminate negotiations already opened.

(18) Din id-Direttiva m’għandhiex teffettwa drittijiet eżistenti oħra li jirrigwardaw l-involviment u m’għandhomx għalfejn jaffettwaw strutturi oħra eżistenti ta’ rappreżentanza,, li tipprovdi għalihom il-Komunità u l-liġijiet nazzjonali u l-prattiċi.

(18) This Directive should not affect other existing rights regarding involvement and need not affect other existing representation structures, provided for by Community and national laws and practices.

(19) L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa fil-każ ta’ nuqqas ta’ konformità ma’ l-obbligazzjonijiet preskritti f’din id-Direttiva.

(19) Member States should take appropriate measures in the event of failure to comply with the obligations laid down in this Directive.

(20) It-Trattat ma pprovdiex is-setgħat meħtieġa għall-Komunità li tadotta din id-Direttiva, ħlief għal dawk kif hemm ipprovdut fl-Artikolu 308.

(20) The Treaty has not provided the necessary powers for the Community to adopt this Directive, other than those provided for in Article 308.

(21) Huwa prinċipju fundamentali u għan iddikjarat ta’ din id-Direttiva li tassigura d-drittijiet miksuba ta’ l-impjegati fir-rigward ta’ involviment fid-deċiżjonijiet tal-kumpanniji. Id-drittijiet ta’ l-impjegati fis-seħħ qabel l-istabbiliment ta’ l-SCE għandhom jipprovdu l-bażi għad-drittijiet ta’ l-impjegati għal involviment fl-SCE (il-prinċipju ta’ "qabel u wara"). B’konsegwenza, dik l-attitudni għandha mhux biss tapplika għall-istabbiliment inizjali ta’ SCE iżda wkoll għall-bidliet strutturali f’SCE eżistenti u għall-entitajiet affettwati bil-proċessi ta’ bidliet strutturali. Għalhekk, meta uffiċċju reġistrat ta’ SCE jiġi trasferit minn Stat Membru għall-ieħor, ta’ l-anqas l-istess livell ta’ drittijiet ta’ involviment eżistenti għandhom ikomplu japplikaw. B’żieda, jekk l-għatba li tikkonċerna l-involviment ta’ impjegati tintlaħaq jew tinqabeż wara r-reġistrazzjoni ta’ SCE, dawn id-drittijiet għandhom japplikaw bl-istess mod li bih kienu japplikaw, kieku l-għatba kienet intlaħqet jew inqabżet qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni.

(21) It is a fundamental principle and stated aim of this Directive to secure employees' acquired rights as regards involvement in company decisions. Employee rights in force before the establishment of SCEs should provide the basis for employee rights of involvement in the SCE (the "before and after" principle). Consequently, that approach should apply not only to the initial establishment of an SCE but also to structural changes in an existing SCE and to the entities affected by structural change processes. Therefore, where the registered office of an SCE is transferred from one Member State to another, at least the same level of employee involvement rights should continue to apply. Further, if the threshold concerning employee involvement is reached or exceeded after the registration of an SCE, these rights should apply in the same manner in which they would have applied, had the threshold been reached or exceeded before registration.

(22) L-Istati Membri jistgħu jipprovdu li r-rappreżentanti ta’ trejd unjins jistgħu jkunu membri ta’ korp speċjali ta’ negozjati irrispettivament jekk humiex impjegati ta’ entità li tipparteċipa fl-istabbiliment ta’ SCE. L-Istati Membri għandhom f’dan il-kuntest b’mod partikolari jkunu jistgħu jintroduċu dan id-dritt f’każi fejn rappreżentanti ta’ trejd unjin ikollhom id-dritt li jkunu membri ta’, u li jivvutaw f’, organi ta’ kumpanniji superviżorji jew amministrattivi skond il-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali.

(22) Member States may provide that representatives of trade unions may be members of a special negotiating body regardless of whether they are employees of an entity participating in the establishment of an SCE. Member States should in this context in particular be able to introduce this right in cases where trade union representatives have the right to be members of, and to vote in, supervisory or administrative company organs in accordance with national legislation.

(23) F’diversi Stati Membri, l-involviment ta’ impjegati u oqsma oħra ta’ relazzjonijiet industrijali huma bażati kemm fuq il-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u l-prattika li f’dan il-kuntest huwa miftiehem ukoll li jkopri patti ta’ ftehim kollettivi f’livelli varji nazzjonali, settorali u/jew dak ta’ kumpanniji,

(23) In several Member States, employee involvement and other areas of industrial relations are based on both national legislation and practice which in this context is understood also to cover collective agreements at various national, sectorial and/or company levels,

ADOTTA DIN ID-DIRETTIVA:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

TAQSIMA I

ĠENERALI

SECTION I

Artikolu 1

GENERAL

Għan

Article 1

1. Din id-Direttiva tirregola l-involviment ta’ impjegati fl-affarijiet tas-Soċjetajiet Ewropej ta’ Kooperattivi (hawnhekk iżjed’ il quddiem imsejħa SCE), kif imsemmija fir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1435/2003.

Objective

2. Għal dan il-għan, arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ impjegati għandhom ikunu stabbiliti f’kull SCE skond il-proċedura ta’ negozjati msemmija fl-Artikoli 3 sa 6 jew, taħt iċ-ċirkostanzi speċifikati fl-Artikoli 7 u 8, skond l-Anness.

1. This Directive governs the involvement of employees in the affairs of European Cooperative Societies (hereinafter referred to as SCEs), as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003.

Artikolu 2

2. To this end, arrangements for the involvement of employees shall be established in every SCE in accordance with the negotiating procedure referred to in Articles 3 to 6 or, under the circumstances specified in Articles 7 and 8, in accordance with the Annex.

Definizzjonijiet

Għall-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva:

Article 2

(a) "SCE" tfisser kull soċjetà kooperattiva stabbilita skond ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1435/2003;

Definitions

(b) "entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw" tfisser kumpanniji u ditti skond it-tifsira tat-tieni paragrafu ta’ l-Artikolu 48 tat-Trattat, u tinkludi kooperattivi, kif ukoll korpi legali ffurmati taħt, u regolati, mill-liġi ta’ Stat Membru, li jipparteċipaw direttament fl-istabbiliment ta’ SCE;

For the purposes of this Directive:

(ċ) "sussidjarja" ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa jew ta’ SCE tfisser impriża li fuqha dik l-entità legali jew SCE teżerċita influwenza dominanti definita skond l-Aartikola 3(2) sa (7) tad-Direttiva 94/45/KE;

(a) "SCE" means any cooperative society established in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003;

(d) "sussidjarja jew stabbiliment ikkonċernat" tfisser sussidjarja jew stabbiliment ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa li hija proposta li ssir sussidjarja jew stabbiliment ta’ SCE mal-formazzjoni tagħha;

(b) "participating legal entities" means companies and firms within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 48 of the Treaty, including cooperatives, as well as legal bodies formed under, and governed by, the law of a Member State, directly participating in the establishing of an SCE;

(e) "rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati" tfisser ir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati kif hemm ipprovdut bil-liġi nazzjonali u/jew prattika;

(c) "subsidiary" of a participating legal entity or of an SCE means an undertaking over which that legal entity or SCE exercises a dominant influence defined in accordance with Article 3(2) to (7) of Directive 94/45/EC;

(f) "korp rappreżentattiv" tfisser korp rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati stabbilit bil-patti ta’ ftehim imsemmija fl-Artikolu 4 jew skond id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Anness, bil-għan li jinforma u jikkonsulta lill-impjegati ta’ SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti li jinsabu fil-Komunità u, fejn japplika, jeżerċita drittijiet ta’ parteċipazzjoni b’relazzjoni ma’ l-SCE;

(d) "concerned subsidiary or establishment" means a subsidiary or establishment of a participating legal entity which is proposed to become a subsidiary or establishment of the SCE upon its formation;

(g) "korp speċjali ta’ negozjati" tfisser il-korp stabbilit skond l-Artikolu 3 biex jinnegozja ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw fir-rigward ta’ l-istabbiliment ta’ arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ impjegati fi ħdan l-SCE;

(e) "employees' representatives" means the employees' representatives provided for by national law and/or practice;

(h) "involviment ta’ impjegati" tfisser kull mekkaniżmu, inkluż informazzjoni, konsultazzjoni u parteċipazzjoni, li permezz tiegħu r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati jistgħu jeżerċitaw influwenza fuq id-deċiżjonijiet li għandhom jittieħdu fi ħdan intrapriża;

(f) "representative body" means the body representative of the employees set up by the agreements referred to in Article 4 or in accordance with the provisions of the Annex, with the purpose of informing and consulting the employees of an SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments situated in the Community and, where applicable, of exercising participation rights in relation to the SCE;

(i) "informazzjoni" tfisser l-infurmar tal-korp rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati u/jew rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati mill-organi kompetenti ta’ l-SCE dwar kwistjonijiet li jikkonċernaw l-SCE nnifisha u kull waħda mis-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti li jkunu jinsabu fi Stat Membru ieħor jew li jeċċdu is-setgħat ta’ l-organi tat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet fi Stat Membru wieħed fi żmien, b’mod u b’kontenut li jippermetti lir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegatri li jwettqu stima fil-fond ta’ l-impatt possibbli u, fejn xieraq, jippreparaw konsultazzjonijiet ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE;

(g) "special negotiating body" means the body established in accordance with Article 3 to negotiate with the competent organ of the participating legal entities regarding the establishment of arrangements for the involvement of employees within the SCE;

(j) "konsultazzjoni" tfisser l-istabbiliment ta’ djalogu u skambju ta’ ideat bejn il-korp rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati u/jew tar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati u l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE, fi żmien, b’mod u b’kontenut li jippermetti lir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati, fuq il-bażi ta’ l-informazzjoni pprovduta, li jesprimu opinjoni dwar miżuri maħsuba mill-organu kompetenti li jista’ jingħata kont tagħhom fil-proċess ta’ teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet fi ħdan l-SCE;

(h) "involvement of employees" means any mechanism, including information, consultation and participation, through which employees' representatives may exercise an influence on decisions to be taken within an undertaking;

(k) "parteċipazzjoni" tfisser l-influwenza ta’ korp rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati u/jew ir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati fl-affarijiet ta’ entità legali permezz ta’:

(i) "information" means the informing of the body representative of the employees and/or the employees' representatives by the competent organ of the SCE on questions which concern the SCE itself and any of its subsidiaries or establishments situated in another Member State or which exceed the powers of the decision-making organs in a single Member State at a time, in a manner and with a content which allows the employees' representatives to undertake an in-depth assessment of the possible impact and, where appropriate, prepare consultations with the competent organ of the SCE;

- id-dritt li jeleġġi jew jaħtar uħud mill-membri tas-superviżorju ta’ entità legali jew korp organu amministrattiv, jew

(j) "consultation" means the establishment of dialogue and exchange of views between the body representative of the employees and/or the employees' representatives and the competent organ of the SCE, at a time, in a manner and with a content which allows the employees' representatives, on the basis of information provided, to express an opinion on measures envisaged by the competent organ which may be taken into account in the decision-making process within the SCE;

- id-dritt li jirrakkomanda u/jew jopponi l-ħatra tal-membri kollha jew uħud minnhom tas-superviżorju ta’ entità legali jew organu amministrattiv.

(k) "participation" means the influence of the body representative of the employees and/or the employees' representatives in the affairs of a legal entity by way of:

TAQSIMA II

- the right to elect or appoint some of the members of the legal entity's supervisory or administrative organ, or

PROĊEDURA TA’ NEGOZJATI APPLIKABBLI GĦALL-SCE STABBILITI MINN TA’ L-ANQAS ŻEWĠ ENTITAJIET LEGALI JEW BI TRASFORMAZZJONI

- the right to recommend and/or oppose the appointment of some or all of the members of the legal entity's supervisory or administrative organ.

Artikolu 3

Ħolqien ta’ korp speċjali li jinnegozja

SECTION II

1. Fejn l-organi li jimmaniġġjaw jew dawk amministrattivi ta’ entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw iħejju pjan għall-istabbiliment ta’ SCE, għandhom kemm jista’ jkun malajr jieħdu l-passi meħtieġa, inkluż il-provvista ta’ informazzjoni dwar l-identità ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw u sussidjarji jew stabbilimenti, kif ukoll in-numru ta’ l-impjegati tagħhom, biex jibdew negozjati mar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-entitajiet legali jew arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ l-impjegati fl-SCE.

NEGOTIATING PROCEDURE APPLICABLE TO SCEs ESTABLISHED BY AT LEAST TWO LEGAL ENTITIES OR BY TRANSFORMATION

2. Għal dan il-għan, korp speċjali tan-negozjati rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw u sussidjarji konċernati jew stabbilimenti għandu jinħoloq skond id-dispożizzjonijiet li ġejjin:

Article 3

(a) fl-elezzjoni jew il-ħatra ta’ membri tal-korp speċjali tan-negozjati, għandu jiġi assigurat:

Creation of a special negotiating body

(i) li dawk il-membri huma eletti jew maħtura fi proporzjon tan-numru ta’ impjegati li jaħdmu f’kull Stat Membru mill-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw u sussidjarji kkonċernati jew stabbilimenti, billi jallokaw fir-rigward ta’ Stat Membru siġġu wieħed għal kull porzjon ta’ impjegati li jaħdmu f’dan l-Istat Membru li jkun ugwali għal 10 %, jew frazzjoni tagħom, tan-numru ta’ impjegati li jaħdmu fl-Istati Membri kollha meħuda flimkien;

1. Where the management or administrative organs of participating legal entities draw up a plan for the establishment of an SCE, they shall as soon as possible take the necessary steps, including providing information on the identity of the participating legal entities and subsidiaries or establishments, as well as the number of their employees, to start negotiations with the representatives of the legal entities' employees on arrangements for the involvement of employees in the SCE.

(ii) li fil-każ ta’ SCE iffurmata permezz ta’ inkorporazzjoni, għandu jkun hemm dak in-numru aktar addizzjonali ta’ membri minn kull Stat Membru hekk kif jista’ jkun meħtieġ sabiex jiġi assigurat li l-korp speċifiku ta’ negozjati jinkludi ta’ l-anqas membru wieħed li jirrappreżenta kull kooperattiva li tipparteċipa li hija rreġistrata li għandha impjegati f’dak l-Istat Membru u li huwa propost li ma tkomplix teżisti bħala entità legali separata wara r-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE, sakemm:

2. For this purpose, a special negotiating body representative of the employees of the participating legal entities and concerned subsidiaries or establishments shall be created in accordance with the following provisions:

- in-numru ta’ dawk il-membri addizzjonali ma jeċċedix l-20 % tan-numru ta’ membri maħtura skond il-punt (i); u

(a) in electing or appointing members of the special negotiating body, it shall be ensured:

- il-kompożizzjoni tal-korp speċjali ta’ negozjati ma jinvolvix rappreżentanza doppja ta’ l-impjegati kkonċernati.

(i) that such members are elected or appointed in proportion to the number of employees employed in each Member State by the participating legal entities and concerned subsidiaries or establishments, by allocating in respect of a Member State one seat per each portion of employees employed in that Member State which equals 10 %, or a fraction thereof, of the number of employees employed in all the Member States taken together;

Jekk in-numru ta’ dawk il-kooperattivi jkun għola min-numru ta’ siġġijiet addizzjonali disponibbli bis-saħħa ta’ l-ewwel subparagrafu, dawn is-siġġijiet addizzjonali għandhom ikunu allokati lil kooperattivi fi Stati Membri differenti b’ordni li jonqos tan-numru ta’ impjegati li jħaddmu.

(ii) that in the case of an SCE formed by way of merger, there are such further additional members from each Member State as may be necessary in order to ensure that the special negotiating body includes at least one member representing each participating cooperative which is registered and has employees in that Member State and which it is proposed will cease to exist as a separate legal entity following the registration of the SCE, insofar as:

(b) L-Istati Membri għandhom jistabbilixxu l-metodu li għandu jintuża għall-elezzjoni jew il-ħatra tal-membri tal-korp speċjali ta’ negozjati li għandhom jiġi eletti jew maħtura fit-territorji tagħhom. Għandhom jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa biex jassiguraw li, sa fejn hu possibbli, dawk il-membri għandhom jinkludu ta’ l-anqas membru li jirrappreżenta kull entità legali li tipparteċipa li jkollha impjegati fl-Istat Membru kkonċernat. Dawk il-miżuri m’għandhomx iżidu n-numru totali ta’ membri. Il-metodi wżati għan-nominazzjoni, ħatra jew elezzjoni tar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati għandhom ifittxu li jippromwovu l-bilanċ bejn is-sessi,

- the number of such additional members does not exceed 20 % of the number of members designated by virtue of point (i); and

L-Istati Membri għandhom jipprovdu li dawk il-membri jistgħu jinkludu rappreżentanti ta’ trejd unjins sew jekk ikunu impjegati jew le ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa jew sussidjarja kkonċernata jew stabbiliment.

- the composition of the special negotiating body does not entail a double representation of the employees concerned.

Mingħajr preġudizzju għall-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u/jew prattika li tipprovdi għatbiet għal korp rappreżentattiv, l-Istati Membri għandhom jipprovdu li impjegati f’impriżi jew stabbilimenti li fihom ma jkun hemm l-ebda rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati li ma jkunx tort tagħhom ikollhom id-dritt li jeleġġu jew jaħtru membri tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja.

If the number of such cooperatives is higher than the number of additional seats available pursuant to the first subparagraph, these additional seats shall be allocated to cooperatives in different Member States by decreasing order of the number of employees they employ.

3. Il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja u l-organi kompetenti ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw għandhom jistabbilixxu, bi ftehim bil-miktub, arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ impjegati fi ħdan SCE.

(b) Member States shall determine the method to be used for the election or appointment of the members of the special negotiating body who are to be elected or appointed in their territories. They shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, as far as possible, such members shall include at least one member representing each participating legal entity which has employees in the Member State concerned. Such measures must not increase the overall number of members. The methods used to nominate, appoint or elect employee representatives should seek to promote gender balance.

Għal dan il-għan, l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw għandhom jinfurmaw lill-korp speċjali li jinnegozja bil-pjan u l-proċess attwali ta’ l-istabbiliment ta’ l-SCE, sar-reġistrazzjoni tagħha.

Member States may provide that such members may include representatives of trade unions whether or not they are employees of a participating legal entity or concerned subsidiary or establishment.

4. Bla ħsara għall-paragrafu 6, il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja għandu jieħu d-deċiżjonijiet bil-maġġoranza assoluta tal-membri tiegħu, sakemm dik il-maġġoranza tirrappreżenta wkoll maġġoranza assoluta ta’ l-impjegati. Kull membru għandu jkollu vot wieħed. Iżda, jekk ir-riżultat tan-negozjati jwassal għal tnaqqis fid-drittijiet ta’ parteċipazzjoni, il-maġġoranza meħtieġa għal-deċiżjoni li tapprova dak il-ftehim għandha tkun il-voti ta’ żewġ terzi tal-membri tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja li jirrappreżenta ta’ l-anqas żewġ terzi ta’ l-impjegati, inklużi l-voti ta’ membri li jirrappreżentaw impjegati li jaħdmu f’ta’ lanqas żewġ Stati Membri,

Without prejudice to national legislation and/or practice laying down thresholds for the establishing of a representative body, Member States shall provide that employees in undertakings or establishments in which there are no employees' representatives through no fault of their own have the right to elect or appoint members of the special negotiating body.

- fil-każ ta’ SCE li għandha tiġi stabbilita permezz ta’ inkorporazzjoni, jekk il-parteċipazzjoni tkopri ta’ l-anqas 25 % tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati tal-kooperattivi li jipparteċipaw, jew

3. The special negotiating body and the competent organs of the participating legal entities shall determine, by written agreement, arrangements for the involvement of employees within the SCE.

- fil-każ ta’ SCE li għandha tiġi stabbilita b’xi mod ieħor, jekk il-parteċipazzjoni tkopri ta’ l-anqas 50 % tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw.

To this end, the competent organs of the participating legal entities shall inform the special negotiating body of the plan and the actual process of establishing the SCE, up to its registration.

Tnaqqis ta’ drittijiet ta’ parteċipazzjoni tfisser proporzjona ta’ membri ta’ l-organi ta’ l-SCE skond it-tifsira ta’ l-Artikolu 2(k), li jkun anqas mill-ogħla proporzjon li jeżisti fi ħdan l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw.

4. Subject to paragraph 6, the special negotiating body shall take decisions by an absolute majority of its members, provided that such a majority also represents an absolute majority of the employees. Each member shall have one vote. However, should the result of the negotiations lead to a reduction of participation rights, the majority required for a decision to approve such an agreement shall be the votes of two thirds of the members of the special negotiating body representing at least two thirds of the employees, including the votes of members representing employees employed in at least two Member States,

5. Għall-għan tan-negozjati, il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jista’ jitlob esperti ta’ l-għażla tiegħu, per eżempju rappreżentanti ta’ organizzazzjonijiet addattati ta’ trejd unjins fil-livell tal-Komunità, biex jgħinuh fix-xogħol tiegħu. Dawk l-esperti jistgħu jkunu preżenti fil-laqgħat tan-negozjati f’kapaċità ta’ konsulenza fuq it-talba tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja, fejn xieraq biex jippromwovu koerenza u konsistenza fil-livell tal-Komunità. Il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jista’ jiddeċiedi li jinforma r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-organizzazzjonijiet addattati esterni, inklużi trejd unjins, fil-bidu tan-negozjati.

- in the case of an SCE to be established by way of merger, if participation covers at least 25 % of the overall number of employees of the participating cooperatives, or

6. Il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jista’ jiddeċiedi bil-maġġoranza stipulata fit-tieni subparagrafu li ma jiftaħx negozjati jew li jittermina negozjati ġia miftuħa, u li jiddependi fuq ir-regoli dwar informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati fis-seħħ fl-Istati Membri fejn l-SCE jkollha l-impjegati tagħha. Dik id-deċiżjoni għandha twaqqaf il-proċedura li tikkonkludi l-ftehim imsemmi fl-Artikolu 4. Fejn tkun ittieħdet deċiżjoni bħal dik, ebda waħda mid-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Anness m’għandha tapplika.

- in the case of an SCE to be established by any other way, if participation covers at least 50 % of the overall number of employees of the participating legal entities.

Il-maġġoranza meħtieġa biex tiddeċiedi li ma tiftaħx jew li tittermina negozjati għandha tkun il-voti ta’ żewġ terzi tal-membri li jirrappreżentaw ta’ l-anqas żewġ terzi ta’ l-impjegati, inklużi l-voti ta’ membri li jirrappeżentaw impjegati li jaħdmu f’ ta’ lanqas żewġ Stati Membri.

Reduction of participation rights means a proportion of members of the organs of the SCE within the meaning of Article 2(k), which is lower than the highest proportion existing within the participating legal entities.

Fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita permezz ta’ trasformazzjoni, dan il-paragrafu m’għandux japplika jekk ikun hemm paretċipazzjoni fil-kooperattiva li għandha tiġi trasformata.

5. For the purpose of the negotiations, the special negotiating body may request experts of its choice, for example representatives of appropriate Community level trade union organisations, to assist it with its work. Such experts may be present at negotiation meetings in an advisory capacity at the request of the special negotiating body, where appropriate to promote coherence and consistency at Community level. The special negotiating body may decide to inform the representatives of appropriate external organisations, including trade unions, of the start of the negotiations.

Il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja għandu jerġa’ jitlaqqa’ fuq it-talba bil-miktub ta’ l-anqas ta’ 10 % ta’ l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE, is-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti, jew ir-rappreżentanti tagħhom, l-aktar kmieni sentejn wara d-deċiżjoni msemmija hawn fuq, sakemm il-partijiet ma jiftehmux li n-negozjati jerġgħu jinfetħu qabel. Jekk il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jiddeċiedi li jiftaħ mill-ġdid in-negozjati ma’ l-amministrazzjoni iżda ebda ftehim ma jintlaħaq bħala riżultat ta’ dawk in-negozjati, ebda waħda mid-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-Anness m’għandha tapplika.

6. The special negotiating body may decide by the majority set out in the second subparagraph not to open negotiations or to terminate negotiations already opened, and to rely on the rules on information and consultation of employees in force in the Member States where the SCE has employees. Such a decision shall stop the procedure to conclude the agreement referred to in Article 4. Where such a decision has been taken, none of the provisions of the Annex shall apply.

7. L-ispejjeż kollha li jirrelataw ma’ l-iffinzjonar tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja u, b’mod ġenerali, għan-negozjati għandhom jinġarru mill-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw sabiex ikun permess lill-korp speċjali li jinnegozja li jwettaq il-kompiti tiegħu b’mod xieraq.

The majority required to decide not to open or to terminate negotiations shall be the votes of two thirds of the members representing at least two thirds of the employees, including the votes of members representing employees employed in at least two Member States.

B’konformità ma’ dan il-prinċipju, l-Istati Membri jistgħu jippreskrivu r-regoli ta’ l-estimi fir-rigward ta’ l-operazzjoni ta’ korp speċjali li jinnegozja. Jistgħu b’mod partikolari jillimitaw il-fondi li jkopru espert wieħed biss.

In the case of an SCE established by way of transformation, this paragraph shall not apply if there is participation in the cooperative to be transformed.

Artikolu 4

The special negotiating body shall be reconvened at the written request of at least 10 % of the employees of the SCE, its subsidiaries and establishments, or their representatives, at the earliest two years after the abovementioned decision, unless the parties agree to negotiations being reopened sooner. If the special negotiating body decides to reopen negotiations with the management but no agreement is reached as a result of those negotiations, none of the provisions of the Annex shall apply.

Kontenut tal-ftehim

7. Any expenses relating to the functioning of the special negotiating body and, in general, to negotiations shall be borne by the participating legal entities so as to enable the special negotiating body to carry out its task in an appropriate manner.

1. L-organi kompetenti ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw u l-korp speċjli li jinnegozja għandhom jinnegozjaw bi spirtu ta’ kooperazzjoni bil-ħsieb li jilħqu ftehim dwar arranġamenti għall-involviment ta’ l-impjegati fl-SCE.

In compliance with this principle, Member States may lay down budgetary rules regarding the operation of the special negotiating body. They may in particular limit the funding to cover one expert only.

2. Mingħajr preġudizzju għall-awtonomija tal-partijiet, u bla ħsara għall-paragrafu 4, il-ftehim imsemmi fil-paragrafu 1 bejn l-organi kompetenti ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw u l-korp speċjali li jinnegozja għandu jispeċifika:

(a) il-kamp ta’ applikazzjoni tal-ftehim;

Article 4

(b) il-kompożizzjoni, numru ta’ membri u allokazzjoni ta’ siġġijiet fuq il-korp rappreżentattiv li għandu jkun l-imsieħeb tad-diskussjoni ta’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE b’konnessjoni ma’ l-arranġamenti għall-informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha u l-istabbilimenti;

Content of the agreement

(ċ) il-funzjonijiet u l-proċedura għall-informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni tal-korp rappreżentattiv;

1. The competent organs of the participating legal entities and the special negotiating body shall negotiate in a spirit of cooperation with a view to reaching an agreement on arrangements for the involvement of the employees within the SCE.

(d) il-frekwenza tal-laqgħat tal-korp rappreżentattiv;

2. Without prejudice to the autonomy of the parties, and subject to paragraph 4, the agreement referred to in paragraph 1 between the competent organs of the participating legal entities and the special negotiating body shall specify:

(e) ir-riżorsi finanzjarji u materjali li għandhom jiġu allokati lill-korp rappreżentattiv;

(a) the scope of the agreement;

(f) jekk, matul in-negozjati, il-partijiet jiddeċiedu li jistabbilixxu proċedura waħda jew aktar ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni minflok korp rappreżentattiv, l-arranġamenti għall-implimentazzjoni ta’ dawk il-proċeduri;

(b) the composition, number of members and allocation of seats on the representative body which will be the discussion partner of the competent organ of the SCE in connection with arrangements for the information and consultation of the employees of the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments;

(g) jekk, matul in-negozjati, l-partijiet jiddeċiedu li jistabbilixxu arranġamenti għall-parteċipazzjoni, is-sustanza ta’ dawk l-arranġamenti, inkluż (fejn japplika) in-numru ta’ membri fil-korp amministrattiv jew superviżorju ta’ l-SCE li l-impjegati jkollhom id-dritt li jeleġġu, jaħtru, jinnominaw jew jopponu, il-proċeduri dwar kif dawn il-membri jistgħu jiġu eletti, maħtura, rakkomandati jew opposti mill-impjegati, u d-drittijiet tagħhom;

(c) the functions and the procedure for the information and consultation of the representative body;

(h) id-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ tal-ftehim u t-tul ta’ żmien tiegħu, każi fejn il-ftehim għandu jiġi negozjat mill-ġdid u l-proċedura għan-negozjar tiegħu mill-ġdid, inkuż, fejn xieraq, fil-każ ta’ bidliet strutturali fl-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha jew l-istabbilimenti li jseħħu wara l-ħolqien ta’ l-SCE.

(d) the frequency of meetings of the representative body;

3. Il-Ftehim m’għandux, sakemm ma ssirx dispożizzjoni xort’oħra fih, ikun suġġett għar-regoli standardimsemmija fl-Anness.

(e) the financial and material resources to be allocated to the representative body;

4. Mingħajr preġudizzju għall-Artikolu 15(3)(a), fil każ ta’ SCE stabbilita permezz ta’ trasformazzjoni, il-ftehim għandu jipprovdi għal ta’ l-anqas l-istess livell ta’ l-elementi kollha ta’ involviment ta’ ħaddiema bħal dawk li jeżistu fi ħdan il-kooperattiva li għandha tiġi trasformata f’SCE.

(f) if, during negotiations, the parties decide to establish one or more information and consultation procedures instead of a representative body, the arrangements for implementing those procedures;

5. Il-ftehim jista’ jispeċifika l-arranġamenti għad-dritt ta’ impjegati li jipparteċipaw fil-laqgħat ġenerali jew fil-laqgħat tas-sezzjoni jew settorali skond l-Artikolu 9 ta’ din id-Direttiva u l-Artikolu 59(4) tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 1435/2003.

(g) if, during negotiations, the parties decide to establish arrangements for participation, the substance of those arrangements including (if applicable) the number of members in the SCE's administrative or supervisory body which the employees will be entitled to elect, appoint, recommend or oppose, the procedures as to how these members may be elected, appointed, recommended or opposed by the employees, and their rights;

Artikolu 5

(h) the date of entry into force of the agreement and its duration, cases where the agreement should be renegotiated and the procedure for its renegotiation, including, where appropriate, in the event of structural changes in the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments which occur after the creation of the SCE.

Tul ta’ żmien tan-negozjati

3. The agreement shall not, unless provision is made otherwise therein, be subject to the standard rules referred to in the Annex.

1. In-negozjati għandhom jibdew malli l-korp speċjali għal negozjati jiġi stabbilit u jistgħu jkomplu għal sitt xhur wara.

4. Without prejudice to Article 15(3)(a), in the case of an SCE established by means of transformation, the agreement shall provide for at least the same level of all elements of employee involvement as the ones existing within the cooperative to be transformed into an SCE.

2. Il-partijiet jistgħu jiftiehmu, bi ftehim konġunt, li jestendu n-negozjati lil hinn mill-perjodu msemmija fil-paragrafu 1, sa total ta’ sena mill-istabbiliment tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja.

5. The agreement may specify the arrangements for the entitlement of employees to participate in the general meetings or in the section or sectorial meetings in accordance with Article 9 of this Directive and Article 59(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003.

Artikolu 6

Leġislazzjoni applikabbli għall-proċedura ta’ negozjati

Article 5

Ħlief fejn xort’oħra ipprovdut f’din id-Direttiva, il-leġislazzjoni applikabbli għall-proċedura ta’ negozjati kif hemm ipprovdut fl-Artikoli 3, 4, u 5 għandha tkun il-leġislazzjoni ta’ l-Istat Membru li fih l-uffiċċju rreġistrat ta’ l-SCE jkun jinsab.

Duration of negotiations

Artikolu 7

1. Negotiations shall commence as soon as the special negotiating body is established and may continue for six months thereafter.

Regoli standard

2. The parties may decide, by joint agreement, to extend negotiations beyond the period referred to in paragraph 1, up to a total of one year from the establishment of the special negotiating body.

1. Sabiex jinkiseb l-għan deskritt fl-Artikolu 1, l-Istati Membri għandhom jippreskwivu regoli standarddwarl-involviment ta’ l-impjegati li għandhom jissodisfaw id-dispożizzjonijiet stipulati fl-Anness.

Ir-regoli standardkif preskritti fil-leġislazzjoni ta’ l-Istat Membru li fih l-uffiċċju rreġistrat ta’ l-SCE jkun jinsab għandhom japplikaw mid-data tar-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE fejn jew:

Article 6

(a) il-partijiet hekk jiftiehmu; jew

Legislation applicable to the negotiation procedure

(b) sal-limitu ta’ żmien preskritt fl-Artikolu 5, ebda ftehim ma jkun ġie konkluż, u:

Except where otherwise provided in this Directive, the legislation applicable to the negotiation procedure provided for in Articles 3, 4 and 5 shall be the legislation of the Member State in which the registered office of the SCE is to be situated.

- l-organu kompetenti ta’ kull waħda mill-entitajiet li jipparteċipaw jiddeċiedi li jaċċetta l-applikazzjoni tar-regolistandardb’relazzjoni ma’ l-SCE u b’hekk ikompli bir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE, u

- il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja ma jkunx ħa d-deċiżjoni kif ipprovduta fl-Artikolu 3(6).

Article 7

2. B’żieda, r-regoli standardffissati bil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali ta’ l-Istat Membru ta’ reġistrazzjoni skond it-taqsima 3 ta’ l-Anness għandhom japplikaw biss:

Standard rules

(a) fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilit bi trasformazzjoni, jekk ir-regoli ta’ l-Istat Membru li jirrelataw mal-parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati fil-korp amministrattiv jew superviżorju applikati għall-kooperattiva trasformata f’SCE;

1. In order to achieve the objective described in Article 1, Member States shall lay down standard rules on employee involvement which must satisfy the provisions set out in the Annex.

(b) fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita b’inkorporazzjoni:

The standard rules as laid down by the legislation of the Member State in which the registered office of the SCE is to be situated shall apply from the date of the registration of the SCE where either:

- jekk, qabel reġistrazzjoni ta’ SCE, forma waħda jew aktar ta’ parteċipazzjoni applikata f’kooperattiva waħda jew aktar li tipparteċipa tkopri ta’ l-anqas 25 % tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati mħaddma minnhom, jew

(a) the parties so agree; or

- jekk, qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ SCE, forma waħda jew aktar ta’ parteċipazzjoni applikata f’kooperattiva li tipparteċipa waħda jew aktar li tkopri anqas minn 25 % tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati mħaddma minnhom u jekk il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja hekk jiddeċiedi;

(b) by the deadline laid down in Article 5, no agreement has been concluded, and:

(ċ) fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita b’xi mod ieħor;

- the competent organ of each of the participating legal entities decides to accept the application of the standard rules in relation to the SCE and so to continue with its registration of the SCE, and

- jekk qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE, forma waħda jew aktar ta’ parteċipazzjoni applikata f’waħda jew aktar mill-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw li tkopri ta’ l-anqas 50 % tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati mħaddma minnhom; jew

- the special negotiating body has not taken the decision provided in Article 3(6).

- jekk, qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ SCE, forma waħda jew aktar ta’ parteċipazzjoni applikata f’waħda jew aktar mill-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw li jkopru anqas minn 50 tan-numru totali ta’ impjegati mħaddma minnhom u jekk il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja hekk jiddeċiedi.

2. Moreover, the standard rules fixed by the national legislation of the Member State of registration in accordance with part 3 of the Annex shall apply only:

Jekk ikun hemm aktar minn forma waħda ta’ parteċipazzjoni fi ħdan l-entitajiet varji legali li jipparteċipaw, il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja għandu jiddeċiedi liema waħda minn dawk il-forom għandha tkun stabbilita fl-SCE. L-Istati Membri jistgħu jiffissaw ir-regoli li huma applikabbli fin-nuqqas ta’ xi deċiżjoni dwar il-kwistjoni ta’ SCE rreġistrata fit-Territorju tagħhom. Il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja għandu jinforma lill-organi kompetenti ta’ l-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw b’kull deċiżjoni meħuda bis-saħħa ta’ dan il-paragrafu.

(a) in the case of an SCE established by transformation, if the rules of a Member State relating to employee participation in the administrative or supervisory body applied to a cooperative transformed into an SCE;

3. L-Istati Membri jistgġu jippreskrivu li r-regoli standardimsemmija fit-Taqsima 3 ta’ l-Anness m’għandhomx japplikaw fil-każ kif hemm provdut fil-paragrafu 2(b).

(b) in the case of an SCE established by merger:

TAQSIMA III

- if, before registration of the SCE, one or more forms of participation applied in one or more of the participating cooperatives covering at least 25 % of the total number of employees employed by them, or

REGOLI APPLIKABBLI GĦALL-SCE STABBILITI ESKLUSSIVAMENT MINN PERSUNI NATURALI JEW MINN ENTITÀ LEGALI WAĦDA U PERSUNI NATURALI

- if, before registration of the SCE, one or more forms of participation applied in one or more of the participating cooperatives covering less than 25 % of the total number of employees employed by them and if the special negotiating body so decides;

Artikolu 8

(c) in the case of an SCE established by any other way;

1. Fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita esklussivament minn persuni naturali jew minn entità legali waħda u persuni naturali, li flimkien jimpjegaw ta’ l-anqas 50 impjegat f’ta’ l-anqas żewġ Stati Membri, id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Artikoli 3 sa 7 għandhom japplikaw.

- if, before registration of the SCE, one or more forms of participation applied in one or more of the participating legal entities covering at least 50 % of the total number of employees employed by them; or

2. Fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita esklussivament minn persuni naturali jew minn entità legali waħda u persuni naturali, li flimkien jimpjegaw anqas minn 50 impjegat, jew jimpjegaw 50 impjegat jew aktar fi Stat Membru wieħed biss, l-involviment ta’ l-impjegati għandu jkun irregolat minn dan li ġej:

- if, before registration of the SCE, one or more forms of participation applied in one or more of the participating legal entities covering less than 50 % of the total number of employees employed by them and if the special negotiating body so decides.

- fl-SCE nnifisha, id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Istat Membru ta’ l-uffiċċju rreġistrat ta’ l-SCE, li huma applikabbli għal entitajiet oħra ta’ l-istess tip, għandhom japplikaw,

If there was more than one form of participation within the various participating legal entities, the special negotiating body shall decide which of those forms must be established in the SCE. Member States may fix the rules which are applicable in the absence of any decision on the matter for an SCE registered in their territory. The special negotiating body shall inform the competent organs of the participating legal entities of any decisions taken pursuant to this paragraph.

- fis-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti, id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Istat Membru fejn ikunu jinsabu u li huma applikabbli għal entitajiet oħra ta’ l-istess tip, għandhom japplikaw.

3. Member States may lay down that the standard rules referred to in Part 3 of the Annex shall not apply in the case provided for in paragraph 2(b).

Fil-każ ta’ trasferiment minn Stat Membru għall-ieħor ta’ l-uffiċċju rreġistrat ta’ SCE rregolata bil-parteċipazzjoni, ta’ l-anqas l-istess livell ta’ drittijiet ta’ parteċipazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati għandhom ikomplu japplikaw.

3. Jekk, wara r-reġistrazzjoni ta’ SCE msemmija fil-paragrafu 2, ta’ l-anqas terz min-numru totali ta’ l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha u l-istabbilimenti ta’ l-anqas f’żewġ Stati Membri differenti hekk jitolbu, jew jekk in-numru totali ta’ impjegati jilħaq jew jeċċedi 50 impjegat f’ta’ lanqas żewġ Stati Membri, id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ l-Artikoli 3 sa 7 għandjom ikunu applikati, mutatis mutandis. F’dan il-każ, il-kliem "entitajiet legali ji jipparteċipaw" u "sussidjarji kkonċernati u stabbilimenti" għandhom ikunu ssostitwiti bil-kliem "SCE" u "sussidjarji jew stabbilimenti ta’ l-SCE" rispettivament.

SECTION III

TAQSIMA IV

RULES APPLICABLE TO SCEs ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVELY BY NATURAL PERSONS OR BY A SINGLE LEGAL ENTITY AND NATURAL PERSONS

PARTEĊIPAZZJONI FIL-LAQGĦA ĠENERALI JEW LAQGĦA TA’ SEZZJONI JEW SETTORALI

Article 8

Artikolu 9

1. In the case of an SCE established exclusively by natural persons or by a single legal entity and natural persons, which together employ at least 50 employees in at least two Member States, the provisions of Articles 3 to 7 shall apply.

Bla ħsara għal-limitu preskritti fl-Artikolu 59(4) tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 1435/2003, l-impjegati ta’ SCE u/jew ir-rappreżentanti tagħhom għandhom ikunu intitolati li jipparteċipaw fil-laqgħa ġenerali jew, jekk teżisti, fil-laqgħa tas-sezzjoni jew tas-settur, bid-dritt tal-vot fiċ-ċirkostanzi li ġejjin:

2. In the case of an SCE established exclusively by natural persons or by a single legal entity and natural persons, which together employ fewer than 50 employees, or employ 50 or more employees in only one Member State, employee involvement shall be governed by the following:

1. meta l-partijiet hekk jiddeċiedu fil-ftehim imsemmi fl-Artikolu 4, jew

- in the SCE itself, the provisions of the Member State of the SCE's registered office, which are applicable to other entities of the same type, shall apply,

2. meta kooperattiva rregolata b’dik is-sistema tittrasforma lilha nnifisha f’SCE, jew

- in its subsidiaries and establishments, the provisions of the Member State where they are situated, and which are applicable to other entities of the same type, shall apply.

3. meta, fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita b’mezzi oħra barra minn trasformazzjoni, kooperattiva li tipparteċipa kienet irregolata b’sistema bħal dik u:

In the case of transfer from one Member State to another of the registered office of an SCE governed by participation, at least the same level of employee participation rights shall continue to apply.

(i) il-partijiet ma jistgħux jilħqu ftehim, kif imsemmi fl-Artikolu 4, sal-limitu ta’ żmien preskritt fl-Artikolu 5; u

3. If, after the registration of an SCE referred to in paragraph 2, at least one third of the total number of employees of the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments in at least two different Member States so requests, or if the total number of employees reaches or exceeds 50 employees in at least two Member States, the provisions of Articles 3 to 7 shall be applied, mutatis mutandis. In this case, the words "participating legal entities" and "concerned subsidiaries or establishments" shall be replaced by the words "SCE" and "subsidiaries or establishments of the SCE" respectively.

(ii) l-Artikolu 7(1)(b) u t-Taqsima 3 ta’ l-Anness japplikaw; u

(iii) il-kooperattiva li tipparteċipa regplata minn sistema bħal dik ikollha l-ogħla proporzjon ta’ parteċipazzjoni skond it-tifsira ta’ l-Artikolu 2(k), fis-seħħħ fil-kooperattivi li jipparteċipaw ikkonċernati qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE.

SECTION IV

TAQSIMA V

PARTICIPATION IN THE GENERAL MEETING OR SECTION OR SECTORIAL MEETING

DISPOSIZZJONIJIET MIXXELLANJI

Article 9

Artikolu 10

Subject to the limits laid down in Article 59(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003, the employees of the SCE and/or their representatives will be entitled to participate in the general meeting or, if it exists, in the section or sectorial meeting, with the right to vote, in the following circumstances:

Riżerva u kunfidenzjalità

1. when the parties so decide in the agreement referred to in Article 4, or

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jipprovdu li l-membri tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jew il-korp rappreżentattiv, u l-esperti li jgħinuhom, m’humiex awtorizzati li jikxfu kull informazzjoni hekk kif ġiet mogħtija lilhom b’mod kunfidenzjali.

2. when a cooperative governed by such a system transforms itself into an SCE, or

L-istess għandu japplika għar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati fil-kuntest ta’ proċedura ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni.

3. when, in the case of an SCE established by means other than transformation, a participating cooperative was governed by such a system and:

Din l-obbligazzjoni għandha tkompli tapplika, kull fejn il-persuni msemmija jkunu, ukoll wara li jiskadi t-terminu ta’ l-uffiċċju tagħhom.

(i) the parties cannot reach agreement, as referred to in Article 4, by the deadline laid down in Article 5; and

2. Kull Stat Membru għandu jipprovdi, f’każi speċifiċi u taħt il-kondizzjonijiet u l-limiti preskritti bil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali, li l-organu superviżorju jew amministrattiv ta’ SCE jew ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa stabbilita fit-territorju tiegħu m’għandux ikun obbligat li jittrasmetti informazzjoni fejn in-natura tagħha tkun tali li, skond kriterji oġġettivi, li jsir dan jista’ jikkawża ħsara serja fl-iffunzjonar ta’ l-SCE (jew, skond il-każ, entità legali li tipparteċipa) jew is-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti jew tkun ta’ preġudizzju għalihom.

(ii) Article 7(1)(b) and Part 3 of the Annex apply; and

Stat Membru jista’ jagħmel dik id-dispensa suġġetta għall-awtorizzazzjoni minn qabel amministrattiva jew ġudizzjarja.

(iii) the participating cooperative governed by such a system has the highest proportion of participation, within the meaning of Article 2(k), in force in the participating cooperatives concerned before registration of the SCE.

3. Kull Stat Membru jista’ jippreskrivi dispożizzjonijiet partikolari għall-SCE fit-territorju tiegħu li jsegwu direttament u essenzjalment l-għan ta’ gwida ideoloġika fir-rigward ta’ informazzjoni u l-espressjoni ta’ opinjonijiet, bil-kondizzjoni li, fid-data ta’ l-adozzjoni ta’ din id-Direttiva, dawk id-dispożizzjonijiet ikunu diġa jeżistu fil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali.

4. Fl-applikazzjoni tal-paragrafi 1, 2 u 3, l-Istati Membri għandhom jagħmlu dispożizzjoni għal proċeduri amministrattivi jew ġudizzjarji ta’ appell li r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati jistgħu jibdew meta l-organi superviżorju jew amministrattiv ta’ SCE jew ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa titlob il-kunfidenzjalità jew ma tagħtix l-informazzjoni.

SECTION V

Dawk il-proċeduri jistgħu jinkludi arranġamenti maħsuba li jipproteġu l-kunfidenzjalità ta’ l-informazzjoni in kwistjoni.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Artikolu 11

Article 10

Operazzjoni tal-korp rappreżentattiv u proċedura għall-informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni ta’ impjegati

Reservation and confidentiality

L-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE u l-korp rappreżentattiv għandhom jaħdmu flimkien fi spirtu ta’ kooperazzjoni b’kont debitu għad-drittijiet reċiproċi tagħhom u obbligazzjonijiet.

1. Member States shall provide that members of the special negotiating body or the representative body, and experts who assist them, are not authorised to reveal any information which as been given to them in confidence.

L-istess għandu japplika għall-kooperazzjoni bejn l-organu superviżorju u amministrattiv ta’ l-SCE u r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati flimkien ma’ proċedura għall-informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni ta’ l-impjegati.

The same shall apply to employees' representatives in the context of an information and consultation procedure.

Artikolu 12

This obligation shall continue to apply, wherever the persons referred to may be, even after the expiry of their terms of office.

Protezzjoni tar-rappreżentanti ta’ impjegati

2. Each Member State shall provide, in specific cases and under the conditions and limits laid down by national legislation, that the supervisory or administrative organ of an SCE or of a participating legal entity established in its territory is not obliged to transmit information where its nature is such that, according to objective criteria, to do so would seriously harm the functioning of the SCE (or, as the case may be, a participating legal entity) or its subsidiaries and establishments or would be prejudicial to them.

Il-membri ta’ korp speċjali li jinnegozja, il-membri ta’ korp rappreżentattiv, kull rappreżentanti ta’ impjegati li jeżerċitaw funzjonijiet taħt il-proċedura ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni u kull rappreżentanti ta’ impjegati fl-organu superviżorju jew amministrattiv ta’ SCE li huma mpjegati ta’ SCE, is-sussdijarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti jew ta’ entità legali li tipparteċipa għandhom, fl-eżerċizzju tal-funzjonijiet tagħhom, igawdu l-istess protezzjoni u garanziji provduti għar-rappreżentanti ta’ impjegati bil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u/jew prattika fis-seħħ fil-pajjiż tagħhom ta’ impjieg.

A Member State may make such dispensation subject to prior administrative or judicial authorisation.

Dan għandu japplika b’mod partikolari għal attendenza f’laqgħat tal-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jew korp rappreżentattiv, kull laqgħa oħra taħt il-ftehim imsemmi fl-Artikolu 4(2)(f) jew kull laqgħa oħra ta’ l-organu amministrattiv jew superviżorju, u għall-ħlas ta’ pagi għall-membri impjegati minn entità legali li tipparteċipa jew SCE jew is-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti matul perjodu ta’ assenza meħtieġ għat-twettieq tad-dmirijiet tagħhom.

3. Each Member State may lay down particular provisions for SCEs in its territory which pursue directly and essentially the aim of ideological guidance with respect to information and the expression of opinions, on condition that, on the date of adoption of this Directive, such provisions already exist in the national legislation.

Artikolu 13

4. In applying paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Member States shall make provision for administrative or judicial appeal procedures which the employees' representatives may initiate when the supervisory or administrative organ of an SCE or of a participating legal entity demands confidentiality or does not give information.

Użu ħażin ta’ proċeduri

Such procedures may include arrangements designed to protect the confidentiality of the information in question.

L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-miżuri addattati b’konformità mal-liġi tal-Komunità bil-ħsieb li jipprevjienu l-użu ħażin ta’ SCE għall-għan li ċċaħħad lill-impjegati mid-drittijiet ta’ involviment ta’ l-impjegati jew li żżommilhom dawk id-drittijiet.

Artikolu 14

Article 11

Konformità ma’ din id-Direttiva

Operation of the representative body and procedure for the information and consultation of employees

1. Kull Stat Membru għandu jassigura li l-immaniġġjar ta’ stabbilimenti ta’ SCE u l-organi superviżorji u amministrattivi ta’ sussidjarji u ta’ entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw li jkunu jinsabu fit-territorju tiegħu u r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati jew, skond il-każ, l-impjegati nnifishom, joqogħdu għall-obbligazzjonijiet preskritti b’din id-Direttiva, irrispettivament dwar jekk l-SCE jkollhiex l-uffiċċju rreġistrat tagħha fit-territorju tiegħu jew le.

The competent organ of the SCE and the representative body shall work together in a spirit of cooperation with due regard for their reciprocal rights and obligations.

2. L-Istati Membri għandhom jipprovdu miżuri addattati fil-każ ta’ nuqqas ta’ konformità ma’ din id-Direttiva; b’mod partikolari għandhom jassiguraw li proċeduri amministrattivi jew legali huma disponibbli li jippermettu l-obbligazzjonijiet li joħorġu minn din id-Direttiva li jkunu infurzati.

The same shall apply to cooperation between the supervisory or administrative organ of the SCE and the employees' representatives in conjunction with a procedure for the information and consultation of employees.

Artikolu 15

Rabta bejn din id-Direttiva u dispożizzjonijiet oħra

Article 12

1. Fejn SCE tkun impriża fuq skala tal-Komunità jew impriża li tikkontrolla ta’ grupp ta’ impriżi fuq skala tal-Komunità skond it-tifsira tad-Direttiva 97/74/KE tal-15 ta Diċembru 1997 li testendi l-imsemmija Direttiva għar-Renju Unit [6]), id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ dawn id-Direttivi u d-dispożizzjonijiet li jittrasponuhom fil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali m’għandhomx japplikaw għalihom jew għas-sussidjarji tagħhom.

Protection of employees' representatives

Iżda, fejn il-korp speċjali li jinnegozja jiddeċiedi skond l-Artikolu 3(6) li ma jiftaħx negozjati jew li jittermina negozjati ġia miftuħa, id-Direttiva 94/45/KE jew id-Direttiva 97/74/KE u d-dispożizzjonijiet li jittrasponuhom fil-liġi nazzjonali għandhom japplikaw.

The members of the special negotiating body, the members of the representative body, any employees' representatives exercising functions under the information and consultation procedure and any employees' representatives in the supervisory or administrative organ of an SCE who are employees of the SCE, its subsidiaries or establishments or of a participating legal entity shall, in the exercise of their functions, enjoy the same protection and guarantees provided for employees' representatives by the national legislation and/or practice in force in their country of employment.

2. Id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati f’korpi ta’ kumpanniji kif ipprovdut bil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u/jew prattika, barra minn dawk li jimplimentaw din id-Direttiva, m’għandhomx japplikaw għall-SCE li għalihom japplikaw l-Artikoli 3 sa 7.

This shall apply in particular to attendance at meetings of the special negotiating body or representative body, any other meeting under the agreement referred to in Article 4(2)(f) or any meeting of the administrative or supervisory organ, and to the payment of wages for members employed by a participating legal entity or the SCE or its subsidiaries or establishments during a period of absence necessary for the performance of their duties.

3. Din id-Direttiva m’għandhiex tippreġudika:

(a) id-drittijiet eżistenti ta’ involviment ta’ impjegati hekk kif ipprovdut bil-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u/jew prattika fl-Istati Membri hekk kif gawduti mill-impjegati ta’ l-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti, barra minn dawk li jipparteċipaw fil-korpi ta’ l-SCE;

Article 13

(b) id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar parteċipazzjoni fil-korpi preskritti fil-liġi nazzjonali u/jew prattika applikabbli għas-sussidjarji ta’ l-SCE jew għal SCE li għalihom ma japplikawx l- l-Artikoli 3 sa 7.

Misuse of procedures

4. Sabiex jiġu ppriservati d-drittijiet imsemmija fil-paragrafu 3, l-Istati Membri jistgħu jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa biex jiggarantixxu li l-istrutturi ta’ rappreżentazzjoni ta’ impjegati f’entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw li ma jibqgħux jeżistu bħala entitajiet legali separati jinżammu wara r-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE.

Member States shall take appropriate measures in conformity with Community law with a view to preventing the misuse of an SCE for the purpose of depriving employees of rights to employee involvement or withholding such rights.

Artikolu 16

Dispożizzjonijiet finali

Article 14

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jaddottaw il-liġijiet, regolamenti u dispożizzjonijiet amministrattivi meħtieġa biex jikkonformaw ma’ din id-Direttiva mhux aktar tard mit-18 ta’ Awissu 2006, u għandhom jassiuguraw li l-aktar tard sa dik id-data li l-amministrazzjoni u x-xogħol jintroduċu id-dispożizzjonijiet meħtieġa permezz ta’ ftehim, bl-Istati Membri kollha jkunu obbligati li jieħdu l-passi kollha meħtieġa li jippermettulhom li f’kull żmien jiggarantixxu r-riżultati imposti b’ din id-Direttiva. Għandhom minnifih jinfurmaw b’dan lill-Kummissjoni.

Compliance with this Directive

2. Meta l-Istati Membri jadottaw dawn il-miżuri, għandu jkun fihom referenza għal din id-Direttiva jew għandhom ikunu akkumpanjati b’dik ir-referenza fl-okkazzjoni tal-pubblikazzjoni uffiċjali tagħhom. Il-metodi ta’ kif għandha ssir dik ir-referenza għandhom ikunu stipulati mill-Istati Membri.

1. Each Member State shall ensure that the management of establishments of an SCE and the supervisory or administrative organs of subsidiaries and of participating legal entities which are situated within its territory and the employees' representatives or, as the case may be, the employees themselves abide by the obligations laid down by this Directive, regardless of whether or not the SCE has its registered office within its territory.

Artikolu 17

2. Member States shall provide for appropriate measures in the event of failure to comply with this Directive; in particular they shall ensure that administrative or legal procedures are available to enable the obligations deriving from this Directive to be enforced.

Reviżjoni mill-Kummissjoni

Mhux aktar tard mit-18 ta’ Awissu 2009, il-Kummissjoni għandha, b’konsultazzjoni ma’ l-Istati Membri u ma’ l-amministrazzjoni u x-xogħol fil-livell tal-Komunità, tirrevedi l-applikazzjoni tal-mod kif tiġi applikata din id-Direttiva, bil-ħsieb li jipproponi emendi addattati lill-Kunsill fejn meħtieġ.

Article 15

Artikolu 18

Link between this Directive and other provisions

Dħul fis-seħħ

1. Where an SCE is a Community-scale undertaking or a controlling undertaking of a Community-scale group of undertakings within the meaning of Directive 94/45/EC or of Council Directive 97/74/EC of 15 December 1997 extending the said Directive to the United Kingdom(6), the provisions of these Directives and the provisions transposing them into national legislation shall not apply to them or to their subsidiaries.

Din id-Direttiva għandha tidħol fis-seħħ fil-jum tal-pubblikazzjoni tagħha fil — Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej.

However, where the special negotiating body decides in accordance with Article 3(6) not to open negotiations or to terminate negotiations already opened, Directive 94/45/EC or Directive 97/74/EC and the provisions transposing them into national legislation shall apply.

Artikolu 19

2. Provisions on the participation of employees in company bodies provided for by national legislation and/or practice, other than those implementing this Directive, shall not apply to the SCEs to which Articles 3 to 7 apply.

Indirizzati

3. This Directive shall not prejudice:

Din id-Direttiva hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri.

(a) the existing rights to involvement of employees provided for by national legislation and/or practice in the Member States as enjoyed by employees of the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments, other than participation in the bodies of the SCE;

(b) the provisions on participation in the bodies laid down by national legislation and/or practice applicable to the subsidiaries of the SCE or to SCEs to which Articles 3 to 7 do not apply.

Magħmula fi Brussel, fit-22 ta’ Lulju 2003.

4. In order to preserve the rights referred to in paragraph 3, Member States may take the necessary measures to guarantee that the structures of employee representation in participating legal entities which will cease to exist as separate legal entities are maintained after the registration of the SCE.

Għall-Kunsill

Il-President

Article 16

G. Alemanno

Final provisions

[1] ĠU C 236, tal-31.8.1993, p. 36.

1. Member States shall adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive no later than 18 August 2006, or shall ensure by that date at the latest that management and labour introduce the required provisions by way of agreement, the Member States being obliged to take all necessary steps enabling them at all times to guarantee the results imposed by this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

[2] ĠU C 42, tal-15.2.1993, p. 75.

2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

[3] ĠU C 223, tal-31.8.1992, p. 42.

[4] Ara paġna 1 ta’ dan il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali.9

Article 17

[5] ĠU L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64. Direttiva kif emendata bid-Direttiva 97/74/EC (ĠU L 10, tas-16.1.1998, p. 22).

Review by the Commission

[6] ĠU L 10, tas-16.1.1998, p. 22.

Not later than 18 August 2009, the Commission shall, in consultation with the Member States and with management and labour at Community level, review the application of applying this Directive, with a view to proposing suitable amendments to the Council where necessary.

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L-ANNESS

Article 18

REGOLI STANDARD

Entry into force

(imsemmija fl-Artikoli 7 u 8)

This Directive shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Taqsima 1: Kompożizzjoni tal-Bord Rappreżentattiv ta’ l-impjegati

Sabiex jinkiseb l-għan deskritt fl-Artikolu 1, u fil-każi msemmija fl-Artikolu 7, korp rappreżentattiv għandu jiġi stabbilit skond ir-regoli li ġejjin:

Article 19

(a) Il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jkun kompost minn impjegati ta’ l-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti eletti jew maħtura minn fosthom mir-rappreżentant ta’ l-impjegati jew, fin-nuqqas ta’ dan, mill-korp sħiħ ta’ l-impjegati.

Addressees

(b) L-elezzjoni jew il-ħatra tal-membri tal-korp rappreżentattiv għandha titwettaq skond il-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali u/jew prattika.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

L-Istati Membri għandhom jippreskrivu regoli biex jassiguraw li n-numru ta’ membri ta’, u l-allokazzjoni tas-siġġijiet fuq il-korp rappreżentattiv jiġi adattati biex jagħtu kont tal-bidliet li jseħħu fi ħdan l-SCE u s-susssidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti. Il-metodi użati għan-nominazzjoni, ħatra jew elezzjoni tar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati għandhom ifittxu li jippromwovu l-bilanċ bejn is-sessi,

(ċ) Fejn id-daqs hekk jitlob, il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jeleġġi kumitat selett minn fost il-membri tiegħu, kompost l-aktar minn tliet membri.

Done at Brussels, 22 July 2003.

(d) Il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jadotta r-regoli tiegħu ta’ proċedura.

(e) Il-membri tal-bord rappreżentattiv jiġi eletti jew maħtura fi proporzjon tan-numru ta’ ħaddiema impjegati f’kull Stat Membru mill-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti, billi jiġi allokat fir-rigward ta’ Stat Membru siġġu għal kull porzjon ta’ impjegati li jaħdmu f’dak l-Istat Membru li jkun ugwali għal 10 %, jew parti minnhom, tan-numru ta’ ħaddiema impjegati minnhom fl-Istati Membri kollha meħuda flimkien.

For the Council

(f) L-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE għandu jkun infurmat bil-kompożizzjoni tal-korp rappreżentattiv.

The President

(g) Mhux aktar tard minn erba’ snin wara l-istabbiliment tiegħu, il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jeżamina jekk jiftaħx negozjati għall-konklużjoni tal-ftehim imsemmi fl-Artikoli 4 u 7 jew li jkompli japplika r-regoli standardapplikati skond dan l-Anness.

G. Alemanno

L-Artikolu 3(4) sa (7) u l-Artikoli 4, 5 u 6 għandhom japplikaw, mutatis mutandis, jekk tkun ittieħdet deċiżjoni li jkun innegozjat ftehim skond l-Artikolu4, f’liema każ, l-espressjoni "korp speċjali ta’ negozjati" għandha tiġi ssostitwita bi "korp rappreżentattiv". Fejn, fil-limitu ta’ żmien li fih għandhom jintemmu n-negozjati, ebda ftehim ma jkun ġie konkluż, l-arranġamenti iniżjali adottati skond ir-regoli standardgħandhom ikomplu japplikaw.

Taqsima 2: Regoli standardgħall-informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni

(1) OJ C 236, 31.8.1993, p. 36.

Il-kompetenza u s-setgħat tal-korp rappreżentattiv stabbilit f’SCE għandu jkun irregolat bir-regoli li ġejjin:

(2) OJ C 42, 15.2.1993, p. 75.

(a) Il-kompetenza tal-korp rappreżentattiv għandha tkun limitata għall-kwistjonijiet li jikkonċernaw l-SCE nnifisha u xi waħda mis-sussidjarji tagħha jew stabbilimenti lokati fi Stat Membru ieħor jew li jeċċedu s-setgħat ta’ l-organi tat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet fi Stat Membru wieħed..

(3) OJ C 223, 31.8.1992, p. 42.

(b) Mingħajr preġudizzju għal-laqgħat miżmuma skond il-paragrafu (ċ), il-korp rappeżentattiv għandu jkollu d-dritt li jkun infurmat u kkonsultat u, għal dak il-għan, li jiltaqa’ ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE ta’ l-anqas darba fis-sena, fuq il-bażi ta’ rapporti regolari mħejjija mill-organu kompetenti, dwar il-progress tax-xogħol ta’ l-SCE u l-prospetti tagħha. L-amministrazzjonijiet lokali għandhom ikunu hekk informati.

(4) See page 1 of this Official Journal.

L-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE għandu jipprovdi lill-korp rappreżentattiv bl-aġenda tal-laqgħat ta’ l-amministrattiv, jew, fejn xieraq, l-organu ta’ amministrazzjoni u superviżjoni, bil-kopji tad-dokumenti kollha mibgħuta lil-laqgħa ġenerali tal-membri tagħha.

(5) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64. Directive as amended by Directive 97/74/EC (OJ L 10, 16.1.1998, p. 22).

Il-laqgħa għandha tirrelata b’mod partikolari ma’ l-istruttura, is-sitwazzjoni ekonomika u finanzjarja, l-iżvilupp probabbli tan-negozju u tal-produzzjoni u l-bejgħ, inizjattivi fir-rigward ta’ responsabbiltà soċjali korporata, is-sitwazzjoni u x-xejra probabbli ta’ l-impjiegi, investimenti u bidliet sostanzjali li jikkonċernaw l-organizzazzjoni, l-introduzzjoni ta’ metodi ġodda tax-xogħol jew proċċessi ta’ produzzjoni, trasferimenti ta’ produzzjoni, inkorporazzjonijiet, tnaqqis jew għeluq ta’ impriżi, stabbilimenti jew partijiet importanti tagħhom, u sensji kollettivi.

(6) OJ L 10, 16.1.1998, p. 22.

(ċ) Fejn ikun hemm ċirkostanzi eċċezzjonali li jeffettwaw l-interessi ta’ l-impjegati f’limitu konsiderevoli, partikolarment meta jseħħu rilokazzjonijiet, trasferimenti, l-għeluq ta’ stabbilimenti jew impriżi jew sensji kollettivi, il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu d-dritt li jkun informat. Il-korp rappreżentattiv jew, fejn hekk jiddeċiedi, b’mod partikolari minħabba raġunijiet ta’ urġenza, il-kumitat selettiv, ikollu d-dritt li jiltaqa’ fuq it-talba tiegħu, ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE jew ma’ xi livell aktar addattat ta’ l-amministrazzjoni fi ħdan l-SCE li jkollha s-setgħa hi stess li tieħu deċiżjonijiet, sabiex ikun infurmat u kkonsultat dwar miżuri li sinifikament jeffettwaw l-interessi ta’ l-impjegati.

Fejn l-organu kompetenti jiddeċiedi li ma jaġixxix skond l-opinjoni espressa mill-korp rappreżentattiv, dan il-korp għandu jkollu d-dritt għal laqgħa oħra ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE bil-ħsieb li jitlaħaq ftehim.

Fil-każ ta’ laqgħa organizzata mal-kumitat selettiv, dawk il-membri tal-korp rappreżentattiv li jirrappreżentaw lill-impjegati li huma direttament ikkonċernati bil-miżuri in kwistjoni għandu jkollhom id-dritt ukoll li jipparteċipaw.

Il-laqgħat imsemmija hawn fuq m’għandhomx jeffettwaw il-prerogattivi ta’ l-organi kompetenti.

ANNEX

(d) L-Istati Membri jistgħu jippreskrivu regoli dwar il-presidenza tal-laqgħat ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni.

Qabel xi laqgħa ma’ l-organu kompetenti ta’ l-SCE, il-korp rappreżentattiv jew il-kumitat selett, fejn meħtieġ imkabbar skond it-tielet subparagrafu tal-paragrafu (ċ), għandu jkun intitolat li jiltaqa’ mingħajr ma’ r-rappreżentanti ta’ l-organu kompetenti jkun preżenti.

STANDARD RULES

(e) Mingħajr preġudizzju għall-Artikolu 10, il-membri tal-korp rappreżentattiv għandhom jinformaw lir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE u s-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti bil-kontenut u r-riżultat tal-proċeduri ta’ informazzjoni u konsultazzjoni.

(referred to in Articles 7 and 8)

(f) Il-korp rappreżentattiv jew il-kumitat selett, jista’ jkun megħjun minn esperti ta’ l-għażla tiegħu.

Part 1: Composition of the body representative of the employees

(g) Sal-limitu li dan huwa meħtieġ għall-kompiti tagħhom, il-membri tal-korp amministrattiv għandhom ikunu intitolati li jieħdu ħin għat-taħriġ mingħajr tnaqqis fil-pagi,

In order to achieve the objective described in Article 1, and in the cases referred to in Article 7, a representative body shall be set up in accordance with the following rules:

(h) L-ispejjeż tal-korp amministrativ għandhom jinġarru mill-SCE, li għandha tipprovdi lill-membri tal-korp bir-riżorsi finanzjarji u materjali meħtieġa biex jippermettulhom li jwettqu d-dmirijiet tagħhom b’mod xieraq.

(a) The representative body shall be composed of employees of the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments elected or appointed from their number by the employees' representatives or, in the absence thereof, by the entire body of employees.

B’mod partikolari, l-SCE għandha, sakemm ma jkunx miftiehem mod ieħor iġorr l-ispiża ta’ l-organizzazzjoni tal-laqgħat, u tipprovdi faċilitajiet ta’ interpreti u l-akkomodazzjoni u l-ispejjeż ta’ l-ivvjaġġar tal-membri tal-korp rappreżentattiv u tal-kumitat selettiv.

(b) The election or appointment of members of the representative body shall be carried out in accordance with national legislation and/or practice.

B’konformità ma’ dawn il-prinċipji, l-Istati Membri għandhom jippreskrivu r-regoli dwar l-estimi fir-rigward ta’ l-operazzjoni tal-korp rappreżentattiv. Jistgħu b’mod partikolari jillimitaw l-iffinanzjar biex ikopri espert wieħed biss.

Member States shall lay down rules to ensure that the number of members of, and allocation of seats on, the representative body shall be adapted to take account of changes occurring within the SCE and its subsidiaries and establishments. The methods used to nominate, appoint or elect employee representatives should seek to promote gender balance.

Taqsima 3: Regoli standardgħall-parteċipazzjoni

(c) Where its size so warrants, the representative body shall elect a select committee from among its members, comprising at most three members.

Il-parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjeagti f’SCE għandha tkun irregolata bid-dispożizzjonijiet li ġejjin:

(d) The representative body shall adopt its rules of procedure.

(a) Fil-każ ta’ SCE stabbilita permezz ta’ trasformazzjoni, jekk ir-regoli ta’ Stat Membru li jirrelataw ma’ parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati fil-korp amminstrattiv jew superviżorju applikai qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni, l-aspetti kollha ta’ parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati għandhom ikomplu japplikaw għall-SCE. Il-paragrafu (b) għandu japplika mutatis mutandis għal dak il-għan.

(e) The members of the representative body are elected or appointed in proportion to the number of employees employed in each Member State by the SCE and its subsidiaries or establishments, by allocating in respect of a Member State one seat per each portion of employees employed in that Member State which equals 10 %, or a fraction thereof, of the number of employees employed by them in all the Member States taken together.

(b) F’każi oħra fejn SCE hija stabbilita, l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE, is-sussidjarji tagħha u stabbilimenti u/jew il-korp rappreżentattiv tagħhom għandu jkollhom id-dritt li jeleġġu, jaħtru, jirrakkomandaw jew joppunu l-ħatra ta’ numru ta’ membri tal-korp amministrattiv jew superviżorju ta’ l-SCE ugwali għall-ogħla proporzjon fis-seħħ fil-kumpanniji li jipparteċipaw ikkonċernati qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE.

(f) The competent organ of the SCE shall be informed of the composition of the representative body.

(ċ) Jekk ebda waħda mill-entitajiet legali li jipparteċipaw ma kienet irregolata b’regoli ta’ parteċipazzjoni qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ l-SCE, din ta’ l-aħħar m’għandhiex tkun meħtieġa li tistabbilixxi dispożizzjonijiet għall-parteċipazzjoni ta’ impjegati.

(g) Not later than four years after its establishment, the representative body shall examine whether to open negotiations for the conclusion of the agreement referred to in Articles 4 and 7 or to continue to apply the standard rules adopted in accordance with this Annex.

(d) Il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jiddeċiedi dwar l-allokazzjoni ta’ siġġijiet fi ħdan il-korp amministrattiv jew superviżorju fost il-membri li jirrappeżentaw il-ħaddiema mill-Istati Membri varji jew il-mod li bih l-impjegati ta’ l-SCE jistgħu jirrakkomandaw jew jopponu l-ħatra tal-membri ta’ dawn il-korpi skond il-proporzjon ta’ impjegati ta’ l-SCE f’kull Stat Membru. Jekk l-impjegati ta’ Stat Membru wieħed jew aktar ma jkunux koperti b’dan il-kriterju ta’ proporzjon, il-korp rappreżentattiv għandu jaħtar membru minn wieħed minn dawk l-Istati Membri, b’mod partikolari l-Istat Membru ta’ l-uffiċċju rreġistrat ta’ l-SCE fejn dan huwa xieraq. Kull Stat Membru jista’ jistabbilixxi l-allokazzjoni tas-siġġijiet li jingħata fi ħdan il-korp amministrattiv jew superviżorju.

Article 3(4) to (7) and Articles 4, 5 and 6 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, if a decision has been taken to negotiate an agreement according to Article 4, in which case the term "special negotiating body" shall be replaced by "representative body". Where, by the deadline by which the negotiations come to an end, no agreement has been concluded, the arrangements initially adopted in accordance with the standard rules shall continue to apply.

(e) Kull membru tal-korp amministrattiv jew, fejn xieraq, il-korp superviżorju ta’ l-SCE li jkun ġie elett, maħtur jew irrakkomandat mill-korp rappreżentattiv jew, skond iċ-ċirkostanzi, mill-impjegati għandu jkun membru sħiħ bl-istess drittijiet u obbligazzjonijiet bħall-membri li jirrappreżentaw il-membri tal-kooperattiva, inkluż id-dritt għall-vot.

Part 2: Standard rules for information and consultation

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The competence and powers of the representative body set up in an SCE shall be governed by the following rules:

(a) The competence of the representative body shall be limited to questions which concern the SCE itself and any of its subsidiaries or establishments situated in another Member State or which exceed the powers of the decision-making organs in a single Member State.

(b) Without prejudice to meetings held pursuant to paragraph (c), the representative body shall have the right to be informed and consulted and, for that purpose, to meet with the competent organ of the SCE at least once a year, on the basis of regular reports drawn up by the competent organ, on the progress of the business of the SCE and its prospects. The local managements shall be informed accordingly.

The competent organ of the SCE shall provide the representative body with the agenda for meetings of the administrative, or, where appropriate, the management and supervisory organ, and with copies of all documents submitted to the general meeting of its members.

The meeting shall relate in particular to the structure, economic and financial situation, the probable development of the business and of production and sales, initiatives with regard to corporate social responsibility, the situation and probable trend of employment, investments, and substantial changes concerning organisation, the 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.

(c) Where 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, the representative body shall have the right to be informed. The representative body or, where it so decides, in particular for reasons of urgency, the select committee, shall have the right to meet at its request, the competent organ of the SCE or any more appropriate level of management within the SCE having its own powers of decision, so as to be informed and consulted on measures significantly affecting employees' interests.

Where the competent organ decides not to act in accordance with the opinion expressed by the representative body, this body shall have the right to a further meeting with the competent organ of the SCE with a view to seeking agreement.

In the case of a meeting organised with the select committee, those members of the representative body who represent employees who are directly concerned by the measures in question shall also have the right to participate.

The meetings referred to above shall not affect the prerogatives of the competent organ.

(d) Member States may lay down rules on the chairing of information and consultation meetings.

Before any meeting with the competent organ of the SCE, the representative body or the select committee, where necessary enlarged in accordance with the third subparagraph of paragraph (c), shall be entitled to meet without the representatives of the competent organ being present.

(e) Without prejudice to Article 10, the members of the representative body shall inform the representatives of the employees of the SCE and of its subsidiaries and establishments of the content and outcome of the information and consultation procedures.

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

(g) In so far as this is necessary for the fulfilment of their tasks, the members of the representative body shall be entitled to time off for training without loss of wages.

(h) The costs of the representative body shall be borne by the SCE, which shall provide the body's members with the financial and material resources needed to enable them to perform their duties in an appropriate manner.

In particular, the SCE shall, unless otherwise agreed, bear the cost of organising meetings and providing interpretation facilities and the accommodation and travelling expenses of members of the representative body and the select committee.

In compliance with these principles, the Member States may lay down budgetary rules regarding the operation of the representative body. They may in particular limit funding to cover one expert only.

Part 3: Standard rules for participation

Employee participation in an SCE shall be governed by the following provisions:

(a) In the case of an SCE established by transformation, if the rules of a Member State relating to employee participation in the administrative or supervisory body applied before registration, all aspects of employee participation shall continue to apply to the SCE. Paragraph (b) shall apply mutatis mutandis to that end.

(b) In other cases where an SCE is established, the employees of the SCE, its subsidiaries and establishments and/or their representative body shall have the right to elect, appoint, recommend or oppose the appointment of a number of members of the administrative or supervisory body of the SCE equal to the highest proportion in force in the participating companies concerned before registration of the SCE.

(c) If none of the participating legal entities was governed by participation rules before registration of the SCE, the latter shall not be required to establish provisions for employee participation.

(d) The representative body shall decide on the allocation of seats within the administrative or supervisory body among the members representing the employees from the various Member States or on the way in which the SCE's employees may recommend or oppose the appointment of the members of these bodies according to the proportion of the SCE's employees in each Member State. If the employees of one or more Member States are not covered by this proportional criterion, the representative body shall appoint a member from one of those Member States, in particular the Member State of the SCE's registered office where that is appropriate. Each Member State may determine the allocation of the seats it is given within the administrative or supervisory body.

(e) Every member of the administrative body or, where appropriate, the supervisory body of the SCE who has been elected, appointed or recommended by the representative body or, depending on the circumstances, by the employees shall be a full member with the same rights and obligations as the members representing the members of the cooperative, including the right to vote.