03/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 October, the European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Hungary for incorrectly implementing directive 96/34/EC on parental leave. The Commission is critical of the national legislation on the following points: in the armed forces, unpaid parental leave is available only immediately after the end of the maternity leave; national law does not protect workers (in all sectors) against dismissal on the grounds of an application for parental leave; and national law does not provide for the right to return to the same job or equivalent job after taking parental leave. Budapest will have to put right these failings if it is not to be referred to the Court of Justice. In a press release, the Commission notes that, following the European social partners' review of their 1995 agreement, it presented a proposal for a new Parental Leave Directive, which is currently being discussed in the Council of the EU. (C.D./transl.rt)