Recital (24)

Special negotiating bodies, European Works Councils, and, on their behalf, their members should have the necessary means to cover the costs of legal representation and participation in judicial proceedings and, where relevant, administrative proceedings. Such costs can cover the travel and subsistence costs of participation in such proceedings of the members acting on behalf of the body concerned. The Member States should either provide for central management to bear the reasonable costs of legal representation and participation in judicial proceedings and, where relevant, administrative proceedings, or should take other, equivalent measures to ensure that special negotiating bodies and European Works Councils are not de facto prevented from participating in judicial proceedings or, where relevant, administrative proceedings, due to a lack of financial resources. This could be achieved, for example, by requiring the allocation of an appropriate operational budget to the European Works Council, the setting up of solidarity funds at national level, the provision of insurance to cover legal costs, the granting of access to legal aid in certain circumstances or other provisions in accordance with national law and practice.