On Wednesday 9 October, the Member States’ permanent representatives to the EU approved without debate the agreement reached with the European Parliament on the directive on platform workers, paving the way for final adoption on 14 October by the EU Council.
While there were several rumours at the end of last week about a new interpretative declaration on the legal presumption prepared by the Commission (see EUROPE 13498/8) or from France, no such move was made on Wednesday, nor did France take the floor.
According to one source, such a declaration by the Commission was considered for a time, but did not receive sufficient support to be implemented, as it was seen as a way of responding to the concerns of France alone.
Sources contacted were also unable to confirm, on 9 October, the French government’s intention to prepare a statement for the Council meeting on 14 October, to be added to the minutes. Paris and Berlin were the only countries to abstain on 11 March, and the German government is likely to abstain again due to the lack of an internal agreement. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)