Social initiatives are slowly being prepared...

(BRUXELLES2) Once will not hurt! The European Commission is preparing several legislative initiatives in the social field.

• The legislative package on family leave — parental, maternity, filial — is also awaited. Only the first theme would be the subject of negotiation between the social partners (the agreement on parental leave of 1995 had subsequently been transformed into a directive). The other two should be placed in the "classic" legislative circuit.

• A text should set a framework for discrimination on some of the four grounds (age, religion, disability, sexual orientation) which are not yet covered outside the workplace. Needless to say that the "religion" aspect will not be addressed, too delicate. On the other hand, a directive centered on disability (signature of the United Nations Convention on Disability obliges), or even on discrimination linked to age (included in the same text or separate text) could be the subject of a Commission proposal. This will not require formal consultation of the social partners, being based on Article 13 of the Treaty (“anti-discrimination” article).

• The directive on European works councils could also be modified not in its fundamentals (scope, etc.) but in its operation. Second phase of consultation to be expected within a few days.

• Other initiatives are planned for social security for the self-employed, restructuring (code of conduct) or the European Globalization Fund (possible adjustment of budgetary methods).

But most of these subjects are not automatically consensual... Several studies and consultations will therefore serve as zakouskis before the initiative itself. This will also make it possible to wait for the end of the period of ratifications, at least the most disputed, as in Ireland. The "shooting" window will then be very short, between June and the beginning of 2009 (the European Parliament
interrupting its work at the end of March).

(NGV)