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BackWhether MEPs, staff of the European Institutions, from the Austrian Mission, from national and European trade unions and social partner organisations and journalists - many guests had accepted the invitation to gather on the first floor of the Austrian Representation in Brussels to start the political year 2016 with AK and ÖGB.
Hosted by the well-known EU journalist Margaretha Kopeinig, guests were able to enjoy, as in years before, wonderful speeches at the popular reception. After the welcome by the Austrian Ambassador to the EU Walter Grahammer, Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, also addressed the present guests. He emphasised the importance of both Chamber of Labour and trade unions. “The social partnership can be seen as a blueprint for Europe”, he said. “It has proven itself in particular in difficult times”.
ÖGB President Erich Foglar and AK President Rudi Kaske addressed the still ongoing crisis and its overcoming respectively.
The Europe 2020 targets in respect of fighting poverty and improving employment figures were not being achieved and there was no recovery in sight, said Foglar. Admittedly, the Juncker Plan was a step in the right direction; however, so far, it did not have the desired effect. Clinging to the austerity policy and a lack of investments - “Money remains stuck in speculative markets instead of flowing into the real economy.“ - were not the right approach.
Foglar praised Austria on her conduct in the refugee crisis. Together with Sweden and Germany, the country had prevented a disaster. “The right of asylum is an indivisible human right; for us this is not subject to negotiation”, commented Foglar.
AK President Rudi Kaske highlighted the enormous challenges, which the EU has to cope with in the near future. Scepticism towards the EU was gaining ground and the project could fail if people would lose their trust. The Union had lost its appeal for many people, in particular during the years of the financial, economic and social crisis, because they do no longer associate it with positive aspects, but increasingly with uncertainty and inequality. What was needed now were essential political corrections, as “politics is responsible for the framework conditions to ensure the creation of a sufficient number of jobs.” It had to prosecute tax evaders and make long-term investment decisions for the future.
Concerning the current EU reform proposals in respect of the Brexit debate, Kaske criticised the changes proposed by Donald Tusk, because “it is unacceptable that the social profile of the Union, which is weak in any case, should be further undermined. This is what will happen if Member States get the opportunity to restrict access to social benefits for citizens from other EU Member States for up to four years.”
Kaske called on politicians to tackle the distribution imbalance in Europe and to get into action at last. What was required was a change of course and above all an open debate culture, said Kaske. Thereto: Commissioner Cecilia Malmström comes to the Vienna Chamber of Labour on Monday to debate with her sharpest critics.
As in the years before, the reception has been a great success, not only due to the number of guests and the fantastic atmosphere, but also because of the wide range of topics. AK and ÖGB left the invited audience in no doubt that they were up to meeting the challenges of 2016. As in previous years, they will continue to take ab active part in European policy - in the interest of employees and consumers.
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