Some Social Platform members - alongside activities by the alliance itself - lobbied the European Parliament this week to vote in favour of the FEMM Committee report revising Directive 92/85/EEC, the so-called ‘Maternity Leave Directive’.

The Confederation of Family Organisations in the EU (COFACE) pointed out that nobody should be forced to choose between family and professional life. Following the vote, it congratulated the fundamental step towards allowing women and men to reconcile family and professional life.

Prior to the vote, the European Women's Lobby (EWL) called for strong European maternity leave provisions as key to sustainable societies and for EU fundamental rights and economic sustainability not to be hijacked by UK business interests. On October 20, it welcomed the result as a vote for more equality between women and men and a more sustainable future.