WORKING TIME : TALKS GOING ROUND IN CIRCLES.

• Position: Brief article

The European Parliament's negotiators want a "clear mandate" to pursue talks on the Working Time Directive. During the first informal three-way talks, on 10 February, they asked the Czech EU Presidency to obtain a "real document" in which the Council spells out is intentions in no uncertain terms.

For now, the talks appear to be turning around in circles: the Presidency has initiated three informal three-way meetings to explore the possibilities vis-a-vis the Parliament, with the aim of securing a "clear mandate" from the Council. However, the EP insists on seeing the Council's written position and a clear mandate first.

"According to the standard practice of conciliation, we need written comments from the Council on the position adopted by the European Parliament. So far, there is no clarity on the Council's position," said the vice-president of the EP delegation, Mechtild Rothe (PES, Germany). The request will now be resubmitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives...