In the second half of 2018, Austria is holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (“Presidency”) for the third time. There are high expectations of Austria. Ahead of the European Parliament elections it is the last Presidency that can still implement and get projects off the ground for a social Europe. The economy is currently experiencing an upturn, but far from all people in Europe are benefiting. Long-term unemployment, the threat of poverty and social exclusion, the increase in precarious
work, and increasing inequality both between and within the Member States of the EU pose major challenges for Austria and the whole of the EU.