No 10 quiet on working time ‘link’ to treaty issue

But a spokesman declined to discuss reports that David Cameron has agreed a framework for negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, under which a review of the directive would be linked to Berlin’s ambitions for treaty change to tighten the EU’s fiscal rules.

Press reports have suggested that a tentative deal was agreed during the Prime Minister’s visit to Berlin on Friday, under which Germany would allow an examination of the impact of the directive, which limits the working week to 48 hours across Europe.

In return, Mr Cameron reportedly agreed that the UK will sign up to German proposals for a “narrow” amendment to the Lisbon Treaty to put the eurozone’s fiscal rules on a legal basis and introduce automatic sanctions for any of the 17 single currency states which breach them.

Mr Cameron’s official spokesman yesterday refused to reveal whether the directive was discussed when the two leaders met on Friday.

However, it is thought possible that the UK may use the opportunity presented by any treaty change proposals to press its case for reform of the directive.

Britain already has an opt-out, which allows individual workers to say that they do not wish to be limited to a 48-hour week.

But European Court of Justice rulings have had an impact on particular groups, such as doctors, oil rig workers and those whose job involves being “on call” for periods of time.