In March 2023, as part of the new action plan for the circular economy, the European Commission has proposed a directive to strengthen consumers' rights and options with regard to low-cost and simple repairs. Although this push is welcomed, the Commission’s proposal fails to address some aspects adequately that would be essential to speak of a real right to repair for consumers.

2023 could be called a "hot trading year" for the EU. In light of the pandemic, the war and the climate crisis, calls for diversification and resilience are getting increasingly louder, which is why alternative trading partners are being sought. South America, in particular, is interesting for Europe not only as an export market, but also from an import perspective, as it offers not only critical raw materials but also potential for the expansion of renewable energies.

Around 6% of total EU GHG emissions, more than 25% of emissions from road transport and huge dependence on imported fossil fuels: The climate footprint of heavy-duty vehicles highlights the need for action. The proposal to tighten CO2 standards for new heavy-duty vehicles is not only the EU Commission's response to the almost steady increase in transport emissions since 2014; it is also intended to strengthen competitiveness of European manufactures and reduce energy dependency. However, successful decarbonisation needs a more comprehensive approach.

In view of the increasingly noticeable effects of the climate crisis, the promotion of environmentally friendly consumption is also moving noticeably up the EU agenda. As part of the new action plan for the circular economy, the European Commission has now proposed two further directives to put a stop to greenwashing, support sustainable purchasing decisions and strengthen consumers' rights and options with regard to low-cost and simple repairs.

After the controversial inclusion of gas and nuclear energy as sustainable economic activities under the Taxonomy Regulation last year, the concretisation of the regulation is picking up speed again. Currently, the EU Commission is discussing the further development and expansion of environmentally sustainable aspects of the classification system. Social sustainability is still not an issue.

After numerous ad hoc reactions to the horrendous price development as a symptom of the current energy crisis, the longed-for legislative proposal to reform the EU electricity market followed in March. Little has remained of the fundamental revision that was promised. AK demands that energy supply be legally established as a central part of public services. Security of supply, affordability and sustainability in the sense of decarbonisation must be legally anchored as overriding goals.

The Benchmarking Working Europe Report 2023 highlights social vulnerabilities and challenges in Europe. The EU is currently trying to manage four transitions simultaneously, with conflicting goals and limited vision. However, a transformative and ambitious social transition is needed to break the current crisis cycle. Researchers from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and representatives from the European Commission and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) discussed this on the occasion of the publication of the report.

In October 2022, the European Commission published its proposal for the revision of the Urban Waste Water Directive as part of the EU REFIT process. The 30-year-old Directive is to be adapted to the latest state of the art technology, current challenges of the climate crisis and the Green Deal. AK supports the project, but also points out necessary improvements.

The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Brussels offices of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB Europabüro) are pleased to invite you again jointly to the launch of this year’s Benchmarking Working Europe report.

A representative survey commissioned by AK Vienna and Greenpeace shows: Consumers in Austria are aware of the downsides of fashion consumption in principle. However, their purchasing behaviour lags behind this awareness. Last but not least, production and trade must also rethink. This requires clear rules. AK and Greenpeace advocate, among other, a legal ban on the destruction of new goods and a strong EU supply chain law.