Hopes on the resumption of negotiations between the European Parliament and member states on a proposal to increase maternity leave across the EU were shattered following a discussion pushed by the current EU Polish presidency.

There seems to be money for everything, including saving banks, except for measures that favour citizens

Addressing the EP yesterday, Polish Labour and Social Policy Minister Mleczko Radoslaw said there was no possibility that a compromise on the matter would be struck during the Polish stint at the helm of the EU as member states were still opposing the initiative.

“The dossier is in a complete deadlock and we see no way that member states are going to change their opinion,” he told MEPs who raised the issue in an oral question.

“Following a discussion we held a few days ago with all member states, the position of the Council opposing the EP’s position did not change,” he said.

The majority of member states, including Malta, are against EP amendments to a Commission proposal calling for an extension of the minimum maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay and the establishment of a two-week paid paternity leave. The Commission had asked for an extension of the current 14 weeks to a minimum of 18.

The original proposal was already being opposed by the majority of member states but the EP’s position continued to harden the opposition of the EU Council.

Reacting to Mr Radoslaw’s “no” to the continuation of the debate on maternity leave, the EP’s rapporteur on the issue, Portugal’s Socialist MEP Edith Estrella described the Council’s position as unacceptable. “There seems to be money for everything, including saving banks, except for measures that favour citizens,” she complained.

Malta has taken a firm position against the EU plans, particularly due to their costs on the taxpayers and private companies and the timing of the initiative in the midst of an economic crisis.

The business lobby in Malta also vehemently opposed the EP’s amendments and had pushed the government to reject the proposals.

Malta grants would-be mothers a maximum of 14 weeks fully-paid maternity leave. Before EU accession, the maximum threshold was a week less but the government had to extend it by a week to be in line with the EU’s directive.