Faellesskabsvirksomheder og faellesskabskoncerner er ikke underlagt de forpligtelser, der er fastsat i dette direktiv, saafremt der allerede paa den i artikel 14, stk. 1, fastsatte dato for gennemfoerelsen af dette direktiv i de nationale lovgivninger eller paa en tidligere dato findes en aftale, der gaelder for samtlige arbejdstagere, om information og hoering af arbejdstagerne paa tvaers af graenserne jf. dog stk. 2.
Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the obligations arising from this Directive shall not apply to Community-scale undertakings or Community-scale groups of undertakings in which, on the date laid down in Article 14 (1) for the implementation of this Directive or the date of its transposition in the Member State in question, where this is earlier than the abovementioned date, there is already an agreement, covering the entire workforce, providing for the transnational information and consultation of employees.