MATERNITY LEAVE : EP WOMEN'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE MAY HAVE TO GIVE UP ITS BABY.

The Council's strategy paid off in the end: the European Parliament's seventh legislature is set to come to an end without an agreement on the maternity leave directive. Parliament's first-reading position could consequently lapse after the European elections since new MEPs would not be bound by the positions of their predecessors. This perspective is alarming to Portuguese rapporteur Edite Estrela (S&D) who, against all odds, succeeded in uniting her fellow members on the difficult question of maternity leave. "The position of the Council is disrespectful towards the European...