Germany is blocking a deal on a new European Union law that would ensure equal access to goods and services for men and women but talks are continuing, diplomats said in Brussels yesterday.
Insurers are resisting the proposed law, which would make it harder for them to charge men and women different premiums. Germany's opposition, however, emerged at a meeting of employment and social affairs ministers in Luxembourg.
Berlin argued in talks earlier yesterday that the proposed law, which needs to be agreed unaninmously, was incompatible with its constitution as it might prevent private individuals entering into contracts that differentiate on the basis of gender, diplomats said.
"For Germany this is quite a fundamental point," said one. Diplomats said the German delegation had given practical examples - to the amusement of others.
One included the right of a person selling a well-loved car to choose a female buyer if they believed a woman would be more careful with the car.
Another included the right of an old lady renting out a room to stipulate that she wanted a male lodger if she wanted help with handiwork around the house. "There was widespread laughter in the council but this seems to be a serious problem for the Germans," said a second diplomat.
Diplomats appeared more cautious about the chances of clinching a deal than they had been on Friday, but said ministers would return to the topic later in the day to see if they could break the stalemate.
They also said that a compromise had been reached on the article of the proposed law relating to insurance.