Many ministers were reluctant to include paternity leave within the scope of the draft directive on maternity leave, of which the main purpose was to improve the health and safety at work of pregnant women and workers who had recently given birth or were breastfeeding, and not to reconcile work, family and private life, which was covered by other EU rules.
De nombreux ministres hésitent à intégrer le congé de paternité dans le champ d'application du projet de directive sur le congé de maternité, dont l'objet principal est de promouvoir l'amélioration de la sécurité et de la santé des travailleuses enceintes, accouchées ou allaitantes au travail, et non de concilier vie professionnelle, vie familiale et vie privée, domaine couvert par d'autres réglementations de l'UE.