Maternity Leave Directive

6.5.2015

Question for oral answer O-000050/2015
to the Commission
Rule 128
Iratxe García Pérez, Maria Arena, on behalf of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Since the beginning of this new legislative term, Parliament has stated on several occasions, including in its resolution of 10 March 2015 on progress on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2013, its unequivocal willingness to engage with the Council and start negotiations on the Maternity Leave Directive. Parliament is pragmatic, constructive and open to finding a satisfactory agreement for both institutions and most importantly for European citizens. Parliament is convinced that the deadlock could be unblocked if all three institutions show sufficient political will.

Despite these unequivocal signals, there has been no response from the Council. The Commission in the meantime has declared on several occasions its intention to withdraw the proposal if the co-legislators do not find a way out of the deadlock within six months.

The announced withdrawal is all the more questionable given that Parliament has concluded its first reading, while the discussions in Council are blocked, thus compromising the whole legislative procedure.

1. Can the Commission indicate the concrete steps taken so far to reconcile the positions of Parliament and the Council?

2. Will the Commission consult Parliament before withdrawing the proposed revision of the directive?