48In that regard, it should be emphasised that Directive 2003/88, the purpose of which, as recalled in paragraph 34 above, is simply to lay down minimum safety and health requirements for the organisation of working time, was adopted on the basis of Article 137(2) EC, now Article 153(2) TFEU. As is apparent from the case-law of the Court, the expression ‘minimum requirements’ in those provisions of primary law which is reproduced in Article 1(1) of that directive must be read in the light of Article 137(4) EC, now Article 153(4) TFEU, which specifies that such minimum requirements are not to prevent any Member State from maintaining or introducing more stringent protective measures that are compatible with the Treaties. Accordingly, the Member States remain free, in exercising the powers they have retained, to adopt such measures, which are more stringent than those which form the subject matter of action by the EU legislature, provided that those measures do not undermine the coherence of that action (see, to that effect, judgment of 17 December 1998, IP, C‑2/97, EU:C:1998:613, paragraphs 35, 37 and 40).
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