Maternity directive withdrawn
As was expected, the European Commission has decided to withdraw its proposal for a directive to improve maternity leave (seeLabour Research, June 2015, page 8).
The directive was blocked after representatives of member states refused to accept improvements to the Commission’s original plan, proposed by the European Parliament.
Rather than continuing to look for a deal, the Commission decided to withdraw the plan, which has been under discussion since 2008, as part of its attempt to streamline EU regulation. Instead, it promised “a roadmap towards a new initiative to be included in the Commission Work Programme for 2016”.
The action has been criticised by the unions. The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) asked how the commissioner for equality, Vera Jourova, could justify only considering acting again in 2016.
It concluded: “EPSU does not trust your hollow and vague announcements.”