As regards the form of co-determination to be applied in the European Company (Societas Europea, or SE), there are three variants available. The first is modeled closely on practice in the Federal Republic and the Netherlands, and the second corresponds to the French system. The third variant provides minimum conditions for co-determination; here, the form of co-determination can be agreed between management and employees as they choose, but employee representatives must be informed and consulted on the company's business situation at least every calendar quarter. As a general principle the nature of co-determination is, however, governed by the provisions on the matter in the Member State in which the SE is located."
AMERICA NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE EUROPEAN MODEL
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/02/12
Author of "Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age", Steven Hill was on Democracy Now today. He noted that the concept of Co-Determination in medium and large companies is one of the many elements of economic and social development which America must consider incorporating if the USA is to learn to handle economic crises with much more maturity than it has over the past 4 decades (or more).
"Co-determination" and social commitments to its citizens for industry and businesses in Europe makes the continent's major exporters, Germany and the Netherlands, particularly strong even during the great global downturn we have seen over the past few years in America (and in the near future). Siemens, BMW, Mercedes, etc. all have "co-determination of workers".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wwq3Q9ODVI&NR=1
In short, the Europe Union--which is facing the possible bankruptcy of several states--including Portugal, Ireland, Greece--is still the largest economy in the world. Moreover, it is set to whether these economic and bankruptcy crises much better than the USA. This is because the USA does not have the social and economic safety nets nor cross-national social commitments that Europe is already displaying to be quite mature.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/12/europes_promise
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