The Austrian EU-Presidency started in the second half of 2018. It was at that time, that the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) published a set of very concrete demands addressed to the Presidency. Sadly, social issues were only marginalized in the Presidency`s work programme, while emphasis was put on strengthening the subsidiarity principle or the protection of the external borders. Trade unions are therefore worried about the EU`s tendency to withdraw from its social agenda and the much needed political change. The EU should work on further strengthening the Union's social dimension instead of falling back into a purely economic community.

Given these facts, what are the first interim results of the Austrian EU-Presidency after the first four months? Are there any positive outcomes from the point of view of employees? Will the remaining time, before the EU elections, be used to further strengthen current Commission proposals? Will there be any progress in implementing a European Labour Authority able to tackle wage and social dumping in Europe?

The Austrian EU-Presidency started in the second half of 2018. It was at that time, that the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) published a set of very concrete demands addressed to the Presidency. Sadly, social issues were only marginalized in the Presidency`s work programme, while emphasis was put on strengthening the subsidiarity principle or the protection of the external borders. Trade unions are therefore worried about the EU`s tendency to withdraw from its social agenda and the much needed political change. The EU should work on further strengthening the Union's social dimension instead of falling back into a purely economic community.

Given these facts, what are the first interim results of the Austrian EU-Presidency after the first four months? Are there any positive outcomes from the point of view of employees? Will the remaining time, before the EU elections, be used to further strengthen current Commission proposals? Will there be any progress in implementing a European Labour Authority able to tackle wage and social dumping in Europe?