The acquis communautaire differentiates between maternity and parental leave, which is not yet the case in Croatia, said Vera Babic, chief Croatian negotiator for the social policy and employment chapter.
The three-day bilateral stage of the screening, or in-depth analysis of the adjustment of the Croatian legislation in this area to the EU standards ended on Wednesday.
With regard to equal possibilities for men and women, the acquis provides for minimum rights, which must be obeyed by EU member-states but they can also enhance those rights in line with their national policies.
Under the EU directive, the minimum paid maternity leave lasts two weeks, and everything longer is qualified as paternal leave.
The minimum paternal leave lasts six months covering both parents, which means that a mother can take three months and a father another three months. The possibility of one parent take all six months is ruled out.
The directive does not stipulate that the minimum paternal leave must be paid.
In Croatia, women are usually on a paid six-month or 12-month maternity leave, with the possibility of taking a minimum 42-day leave.
Fathers can go on paternal leave for six months until their child's first birthday if mothers decide to go to work after being on a six-month maternity leave.