The word “codetermination”, or “Mitbestimmung” in German, is commonly heard outside of Germany but its actual meaning is often unclear. This collection of texts aims to provide a basic explanation of what codetermination is all about, how it functions in practice and what it means to the Germans and to Germany as whole. The relationship between the German codetermination system and developments within Europe are also considered.

The 'Green Deal' will be a civic achievement only when workers are able to participate in it actively. Codetermination as a guiding principle for sustainable companies sets the course for decent work, incomes, production locations and, at the same time, for competitiveness and a healthy environment. Research has provided strong evidence of the efficiency and functionality of codetermination. However, there must be political will and support for it. It is the democratic design principle of the social market economy.

Four scenarios describe different, but equally plausible 'futures' of digitalisation in the world of work. They bring to light various opportunities and challenges that in future could play more or less important roles for codetermination actors.

In the United Kingdom there are currently no statutory regulations on company workers' participation. Generally speaking, UK companies have a monistic governance structure with a board of directors.

France is one of 18 EU countries with workers' participation in the supervisory board or the board of directors. Since 2013, moreover, it has also been obligatory in the private sector for companies with more than 1,000 employees in France or 5,000 worldwide.

Unicredit's Global Framework Agreement about "Responsible Sales in Finance" is an excellent example of how employees, their trade unions and management are able to conclude a common understanding of the company's overall business orientation. Political action for more workers' voice on European level is needed.

This report summarises the results of the Böckler group of experts' "Workers' Voice" and shows that various forms of the Workers' Voice are distributed in Europe - as functional equivalents with similar features and objectives.

This Mitbestimmungsreport is a brief presentation of a project supported by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, entitled 'The effects of codetermination in the supervisory board on corporate governance'.

The report points to specific areas in which regulations must be supplemented and amended in order to boost workers' participation and workers' rights.

In an interview given in the run-up to the Böckler conference for supervisory boards, Norbert Kluge calls for the tried-and-tested instrument of codetermination to be strengthened, also at the European level, to safeguard balance between the social partners.

The Hans-Böckler-Stiftung is striking out on new paths: an art exhibition in Brussels is being held to promote the idea of workers‘ participation in Europe. In an interview, Norbert Kluge explains how that is supposed to work.

This report shows how codetermination, experienced as living democracy in the workplace, together with in-firm training, which companies in Germany have traditionally regarded as their social responsibility, constitute a potent force for integration.

Workers’ Voice is widely present among the largest 100 firms in Europe. 90% of the largest firms participate in collective bargaining (CBA), 73% have a European Works Council (EWC) and 44% have Board-Level Employee Representation (BLER). 27% have a European Company Agreement (ECA), and 23% an International Framework Agreement (IFA).

The European Court of Justice examines the conformity of German co-determination under European law.Professor of law Bernard Johann Mulder, University of Oslo, argues that, in the case at issue, national law is not incompatible with EU law.

Articles on participation and European company law - in Magazin Mitbestimmung: English Special on codetermination

Challenges facing the European policy of the European Parliament and the European Commission for 2014 and subsequent years.