European Union – Social security. The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of: (i) art 4 of Council Directive (EEC) 79/7 (on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security) and; (ii) cl 5(1)(a) of the Framework Agreement( on part-time work), set out in the Annex to Council Directive (EC) 97/81 of (concerning the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC), as amended.