OMBUDSMAN WARNS EU INSTITUTIONS OVER PARENTAL LEAVE.

The European Ombudsman, Jacob Soderman, has told the EU institutions that they should practice what they preach on parental leave. Mr Soderman has opened an own initiative inquiry into parental leave in the EU institutions, to ensure that EU officials enjoy the same right to parental leave as is guaranteed in the Member States. While Council Directive 96/34/EC and the Charter of Fundamental Rights proclaimed in Nice have guaranteed rights to parental leave in the Member States, the institutions have not yet introduced the same rights for their own officials. "The EU institutions' own internal rules should be adapted to ensure equality and to protect the rights of men, women and children," said the EU Ombudsman. The Commission has until January 31, 2002 to respond to the Ombudsman's inquiry.Council Directive 96/34/EC foresees an individual right for both men and women to parental leave of at least three months on the grounds of the birth...