02/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved the report on the transposition of directive 96/34/EC of the Council of 3 June 1996 on the framework agreement on paternity leave concluded by Unice (European employers), CEEP (public services) and ETUC (European Unions) on 14 December 1995. This agreement includes minimum recommendations to help reconcile the professional and family obligations of working parents. The Commission report is based on information from the Member States on national provisions for the transposition of the directive. The Commission also sent the Member States a short questionnaire on paternity leave and consulted the social partners and the networks of experts on equal opportunities law. The content of the report reflects the situation as of 2 November 2002.