The delay in the production of an evaluation report - and I would remind you that, precisely because of the low minimum standards set, Italy was only persuaded to approve the directive on the condition that its implementation would be monitored very soon afterwards - should have led the Commission to put forward a proposal to revise the directive, particularly in relation to certain aspects referred to by the rapporteur: the length of maternity leave, the increase in the duration of maternity leave where risks are involved, a more precise definition of the concept of an adequate allowance, the prohibition of dismissal of women during pregnancy or maternity leave with effective penalties, the prohibition of any form of discrimination with regard to women's careers or the improvement of working conditions, the implementation of all the measures necessary to safeguard the health and safety of woman and unborn child, without prejudice to the woman's right to work or her career and encouraging breastfeeding through diverse measures.
Jeg vil gerne minde om, at netop på grund af de lave minimumsstandarder, der var taget højde for, opnåede man kun Italiens samtykke mod løftet om en hurtig kontrol, og evalueringsrapportens forsinkelse burde have ført til, at Kommissionen fremsatte et forslag om en revision af direktivet, navnlig med hensyn til nogle aspekter, som ordføreren gør opmærksom på. Det drejer sig om barselsorlovens varighed, barselsorlovens forlængelse i risikosituationer, en klarere definition af begrebet "passende ydelse", forbuddet mod afskedigelse under graviditet og barsel med effektive sanktioner, forbuddet mod enhver form for forskelsbehandling med hensyn til karriereforløb og forbedrede arbejdsforhold, iværksættelsen af alle de nødvendige foranstaltninger for at beskytte kvindens og fosterets sundhed og sikkerhed, uden at det går ud over retten til arbejde og karriere, og forskellige foranstaltninger for at fremme amningen.