Following a heated debate that revealed largely diverging views, MEPs concluded that more time was needed to reach agreement with governments.
An end to opt-outs?
Socialist rapporteur Alejandro Cercas particularly criticised the fact that the Council's common position still contains opt-out provisions allowing the UK and other countries to go beyond the agreed weekly 48-hour working cap.
Cercas tabled 18 amendments to the text, calling for an end to those opt-outs, but also on including on-call-time for medical staff as working time.
Earlier, Socialists had warned that they would sink the working time deal if their concerns were not addressed properly.
On the contrary, UK Liberal Elisabeth Lynne stressed the need to retain flexibility and warned that she would defend the opt-out in the upcoming committee and plenary votes.
In an attempt to give governments more time to take up their proposals, MEPs decided to advance the date of the committee vote to 5 November, a month earlier than initially foreseen. The plenary would then vote in second-reading in mid-December.
