The Conference on the Future of Europe was officially launched a year ago on 9 May 2021 (Europe Day). Its declared aim was to formulate answers for the future of European democracy and to identify the next steps for further European integration. Among other things, the final report calls for a Protocol for Social Progress to protect social rights over economic freedoms.

The Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA), the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), the Austrian Transport & Services Union (vida) and the European Transport Worker´s Federation (ETF) are pleased to invite you to our webinar.

Together with more than 220 civil society organisations and trade unions, AK EUROPA welcome the European Commission’s legislative proposal for a directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.

On 27 April 2022, the Vice President of the EU Commission, Věra Jourová, presented a Directive proposal to protect journalists and human rights defenders against abusive intimidation lawsuits, so-called “SLAPPs“.

The EU has been blocking the global waiver of production rights for vaccines and medicines against Covid-19 for more than 17 months now. A document of the negations in the World Trade Organisation has now been leaked, which shows the EU’s continued reluctance to change its position. AK EUROPA as well as civil society organisations are again urging the EU to waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19-relevant vaccines, medicines, and health technologies.

The EU Commission has made 2022 the European Year of Youth in order to promote engagement and participation of the European youth to build a “better future that is greener, more inclusive and digital.” However, despite the Commission's lofty language, concrete actions are thus far largely lacking.

In its Communication on Better Regulation from April 2021, the Commission revisited the so-called "One-In-One-Out” principle (OIOO). The aim is to remove "burdens" in the existing legislation to the same extent as new "burdens" or laws are introduced. In 2022, the EU Parliament too intends to deal with the issue of Better Regulation and the OIOO principle. In the scope of a joint webinar hosted by AK EUROPA, ÖGB Europabüro, ETUC and BEUC, a debate took place with representatives of the EU institutions and stakeholders.

According to the one-in, one-out principle, new legislative "burdens" are only allowed to be introduced to the extent to which previous "burdens" are removed. That focus on stabilising or lowering the cost for businesses overlooks the fundamental justification for all legislation in democratic communities, namely maximisation of the net benefit for society as a whole. The policy brief analyses the development and experiences on the EU and national level with the one-in, one-out principle.

After 22 years, a woman again heads the European Parliament: Roberta Metsola has been elected the new President with an absolute majority. From an Austrian point of view, it is particularly welcome that besides EPP MEP Othmar Karas, the S&D MEP and trade unionist Evelyn Regner has also been elected as one of the 14 Vice Presidents.

As of 1 January 2022, France has assumed the Council Presidency. In his speech, France’s President Emmanuel Macron outlined the priorities of the coming six months, summarising them in three keywords: European Sovereignty, a new European growth model and a human Europe.