Wachten op Europese regeling zwangerschapsverlof (en)

Ministers for family affairs and gender equality met in Krakow on 20-21 October.

Issues related to maternity leave were discussed at the informal meeting. Last year, the EP proposed that maternity leave should be 20 weeks and be 100% paid. In the Member States the length of maternity leave varies from 14 to 28 weeks - for example, in Germany it is 14 weeks, while in Poland it is 22 weeks. The whole of maternity leave is not always paid at 100%. For financial reasons it is difficult to reach a compromise. Discussions on unified EU maternity leave will probably continue for some time.

The experts, including those from the European Commission Network of Experts on Employment and Gender Equality, the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European NGOs and social partners, presented their achievements in promoting the best mechanisms for reconciling professional, family and private roles.

The conference also witnessed the official presentation of a report on the Review of the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action entitled Women and the Economy: Reconciliation of Work and Family Life as a Condition of Equal Participation in the Labour Market, prepared by the European Institute for Gender Equality for the Polish Presidency.

The meeting ended with the signing by the Trio Presidency - Poland, Denmark and Cyprus - of a joint declaration for action to promote gender equality during the 18 months of their Presidency of the Council of the European Union.