On 11 November 2022, Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for Economy, presented the Autumn Forecast for the economic development in the EU. Following a strong first half of the year 2022, the energy crisis weakens the purchasing power of households and burdens the manufacturing industry. In spite of the Commission’s positive Summer 2022 Interim Economic Forecast, the forecast for 2023 suggests less growth and higher inflation.

The European Parliament held the third European Gender Equality Week from 24 to 30 October 2022. As in the two years before, the various Committees focused in particular on the subject of equality in their respective fields of competence.

On 18 October 2022, the EU Commission launched its work programme 2023. The programme shall ambitiously respond to current crises and support people and businesses. Apart from positive and at the same time long overdue initiatives, it has to be pointed out that hardly any social sector initiatives are to be found.

At this years State of the Union Address on 14 September 2022, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an excess profit (windfall) tax for energy companies. This means levying the profits generated by the energy sector due to rising energy prices and redistributing them to consumers. On the same day, Vice President Frans Timmermans and EU Commissioner Kadri Simson presented the concrete draft regulation.

Under the motto “Europe as a task”, the Czech Republic will take over the rotating Presidency of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2022. After France and prior to Sweden, the Czech Republic will continue the 18-month Trio Programme, which has been jointly defined by the three Presidencies.

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.