Brussels, 03/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - EU employment and social affairs ministers will be meeting on 7 November for a special Council meeting wholly devoted to the controversial amendment of the Working Time Directive. Public deliberation is foreseen and the Finnish Presidency is hoping agreement in principle will be reached. Diplomats and Commission representatives agree that this will be a last ditch attempt to reach consensus, failing with the European Commission will have to withdraw its proposal and launch infringement proceedings against the 23 Member States which do not respect the existing directive (2003/88/EC). Failure to reach agreement cannot be ruled out because the 25 Member States are having trouble agreeing on the individual opt-out clauses (the option of not applying the 48 hour maximum working week rule in some cases) (see EUROPE 9204). Several countries, including Spain, France and Italy, say the recent compromise solution put forward by the Finnish Presidency in this connection is unsatisfactory. (ol)