European Union (EU) officials have been meeting on March 17th and 18th to discuss the free movement of workers and employment rights at a meeting in Oviedo, Spain.

Organised as part of the country's current presidency of the 27-member bloc, the conference is attempting to balance the two subjects in order to enhance the region's employment market.

Spanish employment and immigration minister Celestino Corbacho outlined problems interpreting European Directive 96/71/EC - which covers the posting of workers for the provision of services - and related judgments.

"We need to find an appropriate response to the issue of the boundaries between two rights - and find a way of ensuring the compatibility needed between the two," he declared.

Temporary free movement of workers plays an important role in a range of different sectors, such as transport, agriculture and construction, according to European commissioner Laszlo Andor.

In related news, new regulations aimed at reducing the burden of red tape for small firms in the EU were recently approved by members of the European Parliament, which could lead to new jobs being created.