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Here is www.efesonline.orgSee also www.efes-ceeo.net
Last update: 03.06.2004

With the support of the European Commission – Employment & Social Affairs
Avec le soutien de la Commission Européenne - Emploi & Affaires Sociales

Welcome, this is the EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP (EFES).
Bienvenue sur le site de la FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DE L’ACTIONNARIAT SALARIE (FEAS).

This site is basically written in English but for detailed info is multilingual; do you want to read in:
Faites votre choix de langue: FRANCAIS / OTHER LANGUAGES ( 24 LANGUAGES ! )

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What's new on this site since your last visit? Click here on : WHAT'S NEW

REAL CASES: EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP, WHAT IT IS, REALLY

03.06.2004: Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament answers to EFES call

JUNE 2004: EFES CALL FOR THE NEXT RENEWAL OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

In 1998, when the European Federation of Employee Share Ownership was< set up, it was said that some 10% of American employees held shares of their enterprise; they are now 23,3%. Some weeks ago, the Australian Government launched a programme to double employee share ownership in Australia, from 5,5% of employees today to 11% in 2009.
Today, performances studies have multiplied and we can now consider with no doubt that when it is practiced in good conditions, employee ownership brings to enterprises a gain of performances estimated at 2% of additional annual growth on average. On the European Union scale, this would represent millions of additional jobs. In this way the development of employee ownership could be an important factor for the Lisbon Strategy.
Today, we are far from a European awareness and a strong mobilisation. Scepticism or indifference still dominate in many European countries. The contrast is obvious in comparison with the United States, Australia and other parts of the world. A political willingness of the European Union has still to crystallize.
We recommend that Europe gives itself a voluntary objective of industrial policy : reach 10 % of employee ownership in the whole European Union in 2010. In this way, a whole combination of means have to be implemented at the Union level, in the Member States and in the regions.
We particularly insist on the followings :
1. The implementation of a community organ (agency ? institute ? committee ?) for the promotion and the development of employee ownership. In this way, we applaud the proposal of the European Commission Experts Group, chaired by Jean-Baptiste de Foucault, to install a European Committee for Financial Participation of Workers.
2. An adapted legislation must be applied in each country of the European Union. In this way too, we applaud the proposals of the Experts Group of the Commission chaired by Jean-Baptiste de Foucault.
3. Enterprise transfer and salvation of failing enterprises are situations where employee ownership has proved its worth. Employee buyouts schemes should get particular support. These formulas are not only to be supported for themselves but also because they are favourable to the diffusion and promotion of employee ownership, in all enterprises of the Union's countries.

Click here for the full EFES response to the consultation for the new community programme for enterprepreneurship 2006-2010

• EFES FORUM:
click here to see all EFES contributions and discussions about EU policies regarding employee ownership and financial participation of workers

MAIN NEW RECENT POINTS IN THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS:

19.03.2004: Letter to all European Governments. On the occasion of the forthcoming renewal of the European Commission, EFES calls for a transfer of the competence related to employee ownership and employee financial participation along with the management of the sub-programme on employee financial participation of budget-line B3-4003 to DG Enterprise.

• THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE:
On February 26, 2003, the Committee, which represents the European social partners, adopted its opinion on Employee Financial Participation. This very important document is here available in 11 languages : DA / DE / EL / EN / ES / FI / FR / IT / NL / PT / SV

• THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
In December 2002, the European Parliament published a new major report:
Employee Participation in Profit and Ownership: A Review of the Issues and Evidence, by Virginie Pérotin and Andrew Robinson. It is here available in EN / FR / DE
On March 19, 2003, the Commission for Employment and Social Affairs will discuss its project report; it is here available in: DA / DE / EL / EN / ES / FI / FR / IT / NL / PT / SV
Finally, on June 5, 2003, the Parliament adopted its new Resolution on employee financial participation; it is here available in: DA / DE / EL / EN / ES / FI / FR / IT / NL / PT / SV

• EFES ACTIVITIES:
Report of the meeting: BILBAO MONDRAGON 2002
FOURTH EUROPEAN MEETING OF EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP, November 21-23, 2002
Pictures of the meeting

• THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION:
On July 5, 2002, the European Commission finally adopted its Communication on Financial Participation of workers and Action Plan. You can find the Communication in English and 10 other languages, clicking on: EN / FR / ES / IT / DE / NL / PT / DA / EL / FI / SV
Furthermore in 2003, the Commission adopted several communications on entrepreneurship, on industrial policy and on innovation, involving employee ownership: see details on page "employee entrepreneurship"