On Wednesday 31 May, the Member States were again unable to agree on the Swedish Presidency’s latest compromise on digital platform workers, although some delegations were reportedly aware of recent additions, such as those relating to a non-regression clause (see EUROPE 13190/25).
Germany has still not adopted a position on the text, and a strong group of countries (Greece, France, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and Belgium) are continuing to oppose it, according to one source.
Nevertheless, things could change. Countries such as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Malta and Romania could all go along with the latest compromise, provided that the text is not weakened any further.
Belgium, Spain, Slovenia and Portugal are also looking for ways to reach an agreement at the Employment and Social Affairs Council to be held on 12 June.
“There is still time between now and 12 June”, reported another source from a country that was unable to support the latest text, but due to different reasons than the last four countries that were mentioned. They are of the opinion that “things are moving in the right direction”, even if the text still needs to be improved.
According to another source, the Member States have in any case expressed their determination to succeed in reaching an agreement at the ‘Employment and Social Affairs’ Council.
The Swedish Presidency has not yet indicated whether it will convene another Coreper meeting next week. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)