Brussels, 07/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - European interior ministers were unable to agree, on Monday 6 April, on a draft directive establishing a single permit authorising third country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a member state. The text, presented in October 2007 by the European Commission, above all aims to grant migrant workers the same socio-economic rights as those enjoyed by member state nationals (EUROPE 9530). Discussions mainly stumbled when it came to the scope of the directive. Spain, supported by the Commission, hopes to extend the scope of the text to all workers from third countries but other states, like Germany and Austria, wish to restrict the scope of the proposal and grant more rights only to those holding the single permit. The text, that must be adopted unanimously, may however still be adopted during the Justice and Home Affairs Council in June. Spain may agree to reduce its claims with a rendezvous clause that would envisage extending the scope of the directive. Unless the text is speedily adopted, it may come under co-decision with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. (B.C./transl.jl)