Ending its presidency of the EU, Great Britain was not able to trigger an agreement on working hours at the Council of ministers on December 8, 2005. The draft directive on work hours rearrangements is blocked due to the opt-out clause, which allows individual exemptions to the maximum weekly limit of 48 hours. States are deeply divided on this clause, making it impossible for a voting majority to be formed.
In the
pro opt-out camp,
the one that wants to maintain the general opt-out allowed in the current
directive, Great Britain and its allies consider they have
made enough concessions by accepting to limit its resort.
The anti
opt-out camp, lead
by France, includes Belgium, Spain, Greece and Cyprus. They accept a global compromise on
the Commission’s proposal only if the opt-out clause disappears, but are ready
to accept a temporary “phasing out”
period. Sweden and France have even made an offer
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