Britain wins fight for working time opt-out

Britain will continue to be able to opt out from the EU working time directive, it has been confirmed, after the final round of talks on the issue broke down this week.

The British government has refused to back down on its opt-out from the directive, which imposes a 48-hour limit on working time. A question mark has hung over the issue since a vote by MEPs in December calling for the opt-out to be abolished, but the matter has now finally been put to rest after the council of ministers dropped further attempt at negotiations.