In principle…” “

“The peculiar efficacy in promoting communion, that pertains to the Eucharist, is one of the reasons for the importance of the Sunday Mass”. So writes John Paul II in his latest encyclical, ‘Ecclesia de Eucharistia’, to be published on Maundy Thursday (17 April). The Holy Father, citing the apostolic letter on the sanctification of Sunday, Dies Domini (31 May 1998), recalls, among other things, “that it is an obligation for the faithful to participate in Mass, unless they be prevented from so doing by a grave impediment, and Pastors therefore have the corresponding duty to offer everyone the chance” to fulfil the “Sunday” precept. The problem of the coincidence of the weekly rest-day with Sunday is being posed anew in our time. In this regard, what provisions are made by EU legislation, or by that of EU member states? EU legislation on the weekly rest-day is regulated essentially by the Directive of the European Council of 23 November 1993 concerning some aspects of hours of work. It was modified by the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 2000. On the coincidence with the weekly rest-day with Sunday, the Directive of 1993 states that “the minimum period of (weekly) rest shall in principle comprise Sunday”. This provision, however, was abrogated by the Court of Justice of the European Community in 1996. A Resolution of the European Parliament of 12 December 1996 then intervened on the question, recommending member states and labour and employers organizations inter alia “to recognize the particular character of Sunday as a day of rest”. The Directive of 2000 in turn implemented the sentence of the Court of Justice of 1996, recommending that the provision that comprised Sunday in the “minimum period of weekly rest” be quashed. In the countries of the EU Austria: the prohibition of Sunday work is not specified in collective labour contracts. Belgium: Sunday work is in principle prohibited. Denmark: the weekly rest-day does not necessarily coincide with Sunday. Finland: as far as possible, the minimum weekly rest period of 35 hours ought to coincide with Sunday. France: albeit with numerous exemptions, the general principle of Sunday as the day of rest remains in force. Germany: Sunday represents the obligatory weekly day of rest. Greece: Sunday work, in general prohibited, gives a right to retribution equivalent to 175% of the normal wage. Ireland: by tradition, the weekly rest-day remains Sunday. Italy: in spite of the lack of specific provisions, the principle of the Sunday rest-day remains in force. Luxembourg: Sunday remains the weekly rest-day. Netherlands: it is generally prohibited to work on Sunday. Portugal: in principle, Sunday is the compulsory day of rest. Spain: Spanish legislation gives employees the right to a minimum period of weekly rest of 36 consecutive hours; normally, Sunday is comprised in this period. Sweden: the weekly rest-day must coincide as far as possible with the weekend, almost exclusively with Sunday. United Kingdom: no legislation on Sunday work exists and it is up to collective agreements and conventions or labour contracts to decide on the matter. Most grant Saturday and Sunday as days of rest.