1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that fathers or, where and insofar as recognised by national law, equivalent second parents, have the right to paternity leave of 10 working days that is to be taken on the occasion of the birth of the worker's child. Member States may determine whether to allow paternity leave to be taken partly before or only after the birth of the child and whether to allow such leave to be taken in flexible ways.

2. The right to paternity leave shall not be made subject to a period of work qualification or to a length of service qualification.

3. The right to paternity leave shall be granted irrespective of the worker's marital or family status, as defined by national law.