This paper offers an early analysis of the recently adopted 2019 directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers. In particular, it focuses on the 4 substantive rights included in the directive : parental leave, paternity leave, carers’ leave and the right to ask for flexible working arrangements. The paper aims to highlight the directive’s successes and to identify the areas that still need improvement. It concludes that this instrument is certainly a bold and innovative development and a welcome acknowledgment of the needs of working carers. Its aims, however, are only partially reached, as such it is one more step along way but certainly not the final one.