Brussels, 17/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Parliament and Council have held constructive talks on the working time directive although no agreement has been reached, a press release dated Thursday 16 April announces. They agreed to hold a further trilogue on Thursday 23 April in Strasbourg with a view to a final formal conciliation meeting on 27 and 28 April. The only point of discussion was the opt-out clause on the maximum 48-hour working week, which remains the most contentious issue.
Conciliation procedure officially began on 17 March. The conciliation committee has six weeks (until 28 April) to seek to find a compromise on the form of a joint text. Given that Parliament will hold its last plenary session before the European elections in May, any agreement reached in the conciliation committee needs to be in due time to allow Parliament to reflect at that session, the EP points out in a press release. See EUROPE 9875/9864. (G.B./transl.jl)