Negotiations on social policy and employment were provisionally closed with the 10 countries that according to the EU, could be ready to join by 2004, the Malta-EU Information Centre said in its latest round-up of progress in negotiations.
The 10 countries are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Negotiations on this chapter were also closed with Bulgaria and Romania.
Employment and social policy covers areas where there exists substantial secondary legal acquis at EU level, such as health and safety issues, labour law and equality of treatment between women and men, as well as areas such as social dialogue, employment and social protection where convergent policies are being developed, on the basis of the EC Treaty.
In these areas there are no legal obligations to implement precise policy measures but a very important general obligation to coordinate the respective policies in order to develop a homogeneous social framework.
Candidate countries had been asked to provide detailed timetables for adoption and implementation of all measures (in particular health and safety directives). They have also been requested to provide further details on the various inspection bodies and the systems of redress open to aggrieved persons.
Negotiations and transitional periods obtained:
Bulgaria: Opened October 2001, closed April 2002: None.
Cyprus: Opened September 1999, closed March 2000: None.
Czech Republic: Opened September 1999, closed May 2001. None.
Estonia: Opened September 1999, closed October 2000: None.
Hungary: Opened September 1999, closed November 2001: Three years for directive on maximum tar yield of cigarettes.
Latvia: Opened February 2001, closed June 2001: One year seven months for directive on work equipment; two years for directive on workplace; two years for directive on display screen equipment.
Lithuania: Opened November 2000, closed March 2001: None.
Malta: Opened November 2000, closed November 2001: One year seven months for directive on working time; two years for directive on noise at work; three years for directive on work equipment; two years for directive on temporary mobile construction.
Poland: Opened September 1999, closed March 2001: Three years for directive on work equipment.
Romania: Opened October 2001, closed April 2002: None.
Slovakia: Opened February 2001, closed May 2001: None.
Slovenia: Opened September 1999, closed November 2000: Three years for directives on biological agents; three years for directive on noise at work; three years for directives on chemical, physical, biological agents at work.
All transitional periods start from January 1, 2003.