While the focus at the beginning of the new EU legislative period is on competitiveness and defence, AK EUROPA presents a List of Demands for a better future for the EU from the perspective of workers and consumers. Their interests must not be neglected, especially in view of the current challenges, and attention must be paid to social justice right now.

On 18 December 2024, the EU Parliament set up two special committees on the issues of the housing crisis in the EU and the European Shield for Democracy. These have the task of drawing up reports in their respective areas of responsibility within one year. This serves to address pressing challenges that are currently of particular political relevance in the EU.

On 26 March 2025, the EU Commission published the new Preparedness Union Strategy, proposing ways to better prepare for and protect EU citizens from disasters, hybrid threats and geopolitical crises. The strategy comprises 30 key measures and a detailed action plan with regard to anticipation, protection of essential societal functions, and coordination and cooperation, among other. The aim is nothing less than to develop a ‘preparedness by design culture' across all EU policies.

The EU Commission presented the so-called Omnibus I package on 26 February 2025. The proposal significantly waters down the recently adopted directives on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD). Their implementation is also to be delayed. Important achievements for workers, the environment and the climate are thus being undermined and threaten to lose their impact. The EU Commission is presenting the proposals as measures to reduce bureaucracy and promote the EU's competitiveness.

The worsening of the geopolitical situation is leading to a global arms race. EU member states are also committed to increasing their overall military preparedness. In this context, the EU Commission is now presenting the ReArm Europe Plan, which is aiming at strengthening European security.

On 12 February, the EU Commission published a communication setting out the initial key points of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It provides the basis for discussion as to how the future long-term EU budget is to be adapted to meet changing needs and priorities. The proposal of the EU Commission is to be presented in July 2025 and will subsequently be discussed in the EU Parliament and Council. Implementation is planned for January 2028. AK is taking part in the relevant consultation.

Last Wednesday, the EU Commission presented its work programme for 2025. It sets out the roadmap for the first year of the new mandate. It confirms what has been looming for the last few months: The focus is on increasing European competitiveness, security and economic growth. The aim is to make the Union “bolder, simpler and faster”. The concerns of employees are hardly taken into account.

At the beginning of the year, just under twenty years after joining the EU, Poland took over the EU Council Presidency for the second time. This presidency coincides with the start of a new legislative cycle, following the inauguration of the new EU Commission. During these challenging and geopolitically unsettling times, the Polish presidency intends to prioritise security, including defence, resilience and independence.

Around 120 guests from European institutions and partner organisations attended the traditional New Year's reception of AK EUROPA and the Brussels office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation on 20 January 2025. The theme of the evening was pay transparency and women's policy in general.

Amid geopolitical uncertainties and crises, Europe is striving for greater competitiveness. The Draghi report serves as a guide for EU policy. We spoke to Andrew Watt, who took over the management of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) in October 2024, about the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report. He views some of the report's proposals as positive, but also expresses some clear criticisms.