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'What has the EU ever done for us?'

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If you are an employee:

The EU has always been at the forefront of equal opportunities legislation. Equal pay for men and women is required by EC Law. The Equal Treatment Directive 1976, which was revised in 2002, outlaws sex discrimination at work - including discrimination against pregnant women.

The Working Time Directive, which has been in force for four years, limits the average working time for employees to 48 hours. It also laid down regulations on breaks during the working day, and on the right to four weeks' paid holiday.

The Social Chapter provides the same rights for part-time workers (the majority of whom are women) as full-time workers. Further information on equal opportunities legislation can be found here

If you are a mother:

Parental leave has been introduced for the first time, giving parents up to four weeks' unpaid leave in one year to care for a child or to make arrangements for a child's welfare. It helps working parents balance work and home life.

Under the EU Directive 96/34/EC, the Government announced in April last year changes to the parental leave entitlement. These changes came into force on 10 January 2002 under The Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2001. The new rules extended parental leave from 13 weeks to 18 weeks for parents of disabled children.

The Pregnancy Directive 1992 provides 14 weeks paid maternity leave. In 1999, a European Council Directive provided parental leave for both men and women.

EU regulations mean that consumers have full product information - food must display 'best before' markings and full lists of ingredients, colourings and additives. There are strict safety standards for toys.

Thanks to collaborations between police forces and customs officials in different countries, made possible by the EU, there are fewer drugs on Britain's streets. Domestic crime has also been addressed via the EU's Daphne Programme, which has funded 222 projects across the EU that fight violence against women and children.

The regulations also extended entitlement to parental leave to parents of all children who were under five on 15 December 1999 when the right was first introduced.

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