Brussels, 21/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - In an effort to ensure that maternity leave remains well and truly on the European agenda, the European Women's Lobby demonstrated at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 21 October. Their protest was supported by MEPs, particularly Social Democrats. In the meantime, it appears that the machine is up and running again at the Council, also as a means to ensure that the draft directive is concluded after four years of being blocked.
Four years overdue. The European Women's Lobby chose Strasbourg to demonstrate because it is the 4th anniversary of the vote at the European Parliament in favour of this European harmonisation project on 20 October 2010. Since then, this position has remained a dead letter because European ministers have never been able to agree on the issue. The respective presidencies of the EU have therefore chosen not to tackle this dossier over the past four years.
Reaching a conclusion. Some MEPs joined the demonstrators, including Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium), the Socialist coordinator for the women's rights committee at the EP (FEMM), together with social democrat compatriots Marc Tarabella and Hugues Bayet. They are all expecting that the new Commissioners Vera Jourova and Marianne Thyssen will keep the “maternity” directive on the European agenda (there was a possibility that the proposal would be withdrawn as part of the “Refit” initiative for simplifying legislation). The demonstrators and MEPs are also putting pressure on the Council of the EU to resume negotiations on this subject, formulate a position and reach an agreement with the European Parliament. Marie Arena stated “member states must get themselves around the table to help push forward the legislative process to ensure that legislation on maternity and paternity leave is concluded”.
Optimism. Ministers did in fact resume discussions on maternity leave during the working lunch at the Employment, Health and Social Affairs Council on Thursday 16 October, under the guidance of the Italian presidency. Although the dialogue did resume, no agreement is as yet in sight. It is also expected that the future president of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will provide reassurances to MEPs with regard to maintaining the directive, during the presentation of his work programme in Strasbourg on Wednesday 22 October. (MD)