A CONVERSATION with the manager of E.ON, the German company that took over a number of power companies such as Powergen, revolved around the problem of bringing all the pension schemes and other factors together.

The methods of consultation with workers are different from firm to firm and country to country causing impediments to good operations both for the companies and the workers they employ.

North-East MEP Stephen Hughes has investigated the position and is presenting a resolution to the European Parliament. The resolution deals with information and consultation with workers where companies carry out major restructuring.

It covers areas such as redundancies, works councils and the definitions involved. The aim is to achieve a common level of understanding of all issues through a review of the whole scene.

This will benefit all the organisations that face the problems discussed with the E.ON manager.

This example is one of the many that illustrate the value of the work of the European Union to the citizens of this interdependent world of the EU.

Bill Morehead, Darlington.