Ray of hope as agreement likely on EU "Sunlight Directive"

7.11.00pm GMT Tue 15th Nov 2005

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne was this evening celebrating after a tentative agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to take out all reference to natural radiation during last minute negotiations on the optical radiation directive. Liz had fought for months to ensure that sunlight would be taken out of what was otherwise a sensible directive protecting workers from artificial optical radiation.

After MEPs had voted this afternoon Ms Lynne said;

"This is a victory for common sense, it is no business of the EU to decide whether workers can wear shorts and be bare-chested. I wanted to take natural radiation out of the directive from the start and this appears to have been achieved."

"A sensible directive to protect workers from artificial radiation could have been ruined by the ludicrous proposal to legislate on the sun. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy.

"All people should be made aware of the dangers of the sun, but to tell employers to do this is taking the nanny knows best mentality too far".

Ends

Note to editors

The Council of Ministers have equal powers of co-decision with the European Parliament. A formal decision still has to be announced by the Council of Ministers but the result is now almost certain.