On 13 November 2020, the Commission presented its new Consumer Agenda. In it, it introduced its vision as well as concrete plans for EU consumer policy from 2020 to 2025. This communication too focusses on more actions in respect of both green transition and digital transformation.

For two years now, negotiations have been ongoing at WTO level concerning new rules for electronic commerce. As one of 42 civil society organisations, the Chamber of Labour has issued a declaration insisting that the protection of the fundamental right to data protection and privacy will take top priority.

A Webinar on the announced Digital Services Act, organised by AK EUROPA, the European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) as well as the Vienna Liaison Office in Brussels took place on 22 October 2020. As some of the current legal standards are already 20 years old and no longer meet the requirements of today’s challenges, the view of the Chamber of Labour is that new rules for online platforms are of great importance.

On 20 October 2020, the EU Parliament voted on a total of six initiative reports on the Digital Services Act and the use of Artificial Intelligence. All six reports were adopted with a clear majority.

AK EUROPA, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation and the Vienna Liaison Office in Brussels would like to cordially invite you to our joint webinar "Digital Services & Platform economy: Impact on cities, workers & consumers":

Apart from its new Digital Education Action Plan, the EU Commission also presented its vision on creating a European Education Area on 30 September 2020. Both Communications shall contribute to a speedy recovery and a better transition to a digital and green society.

Closed educational establishments, digital learning, fewer apprenticeships – the Coronavirus crisis also had a major impact on the education sector. However, it is the intention of the German Presidency to make progress especially in the areas of digitalisation and vocational training.

At the beginning of the recent electoral period of the EU, the European Commission under its President Ursula von der Leyen announced a series of initiatives in terms of digitalisation. By the end of the year 2020, the Commission will present a proposal to revise the legal rules regarding economic activities on online platforms. For the ongoing consultation, the AK provides a tool to facilitate the participation of platform workers.