The EU lifts sanctions on Myanmar, Member States could reach a deal on the Energy Efficiency Directive by June and new ways out of the gender pay gap.

Myanmar / Energy saving / Gender pay gap

This Monday EU Ministers agreed to  suspend most sanctions against Myanmar,

as recommended by MEPs  in a vote held last Friday.

It comes after sweeping democratic reforms  in the Southeast Asian nation.

The recent elections  where former political prisoner

and 1990 Sakharov Prize winner Aung San  Suu Kyi was allowed to participate

Asset freezes on 800 firms and visa bans  on almost 500 people should be relaxed.

The EU's Energy Efficiency Directive aims  to deliver 20% energy savings by 2020.

However, rows over the cost  of energy saving measures

has led to a watering down of the proposal  and talks remain tense.

The EU Commissioner for Energy  told journalists on Friday

that a deal could be reached by the end  of the Danish Presidency in June.

With France in the midst of elections,  it's a delicate time for negotiations.

If the ambition is too low  I think it will be very bad.

I hope that the Danish Presidency has  some patience to wait until the end of June

because we need to have France  as an active player too

and then Denmark should  put much more pressure on the Council.

Still at 17%, the gender pay gap  remains a blight on Europe.

The Women's Committee met Monday  to discuss amendments

to the EC's Equal Opportunities Directive.

At a time of economic hardship,  MEPs fear a rise in female poverty.

In some cases the gender pay gap widens  further after a woman takes maternity leave.