The EU Commission has pushed ahead with the infringement proceedings against Austria regarding the compatibility of work and private life for parents and caregivers. Austria is also late with a directive on the internal energy market. This was announced by the Brussels authority today.
These are already the second warning letters to Austria. In the next step, the EU authority can go to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in both cases. What Austria is specifically accused of is not clear from the communication.
The EU Commission only explained that the directive was intended to promote “the equal distribution of care and nursing duties between the parents”. Among other things, it gives fathers the right to at least ten working days of vacation around the time of the birth of the child, according to the EU authority.
More rights for carers
It also grants more rights to caring relatives. For example, employees who care for or support a relative or someone living in the same household received an additional five working days of vacation per year. Also, all carers and working parents of children up to eight years old could apply for flexible working arrangements.
According to the EU Commission, Austria has not fully implemented the EU regulations on the internal energy market. “The directive contains the most important rules for the organization and functioning of the EU electricity sector,” the statement reads.
Austria now has two months to respond satisfactorily to the warning letters from the EU Commission.
