Brussels, 16/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The re-examination of the directive on working time will be at the centre of Thursday's meeting in Brussels between Commissioner Stavros Dimas and European social partners. The proposal provoked divergent reactions from European unions and employers (EUEOPE 19-20 May). The latter (UNICE and UEAPME) declared that it is not longer able to negotiate this directive with European unions (ETUC), following the union's comments in the Commission-launched second consultation phase (EUROPE 26 May). Commissioner Dimas, for whom an agreement between social partners is of great importance, will attempt to convince them to enter negotiations on this directive that contributes to the health and safety of workers and protects them against the effects of excessively long and disruptive working hours. Regretting in a declaration "UNICE's failure to negotiate seriously on working time", John Monks indicated that, "this puts the matter firmly in the court of the European Commission and the need will be to move quickly to tighten working time in the interests of health and safety of European workers".