In recent years, the European Union has been increasingly affected by crises. The causes are partly internal to the EU, but to a large extent they are also due to developments outside the Union. Wars, climate change, dwindling raw materials and ever-increasing dependence on third countries pose considerable challenges for the EU. The EU Commission sees this as a threat to the Union's competitiveness.

The new Emissions Trading System ETS II will become fully operational in 2027. The financial impact of rising fuel and heating costs is to be cushioned, particularly for poorer households. However, with the deadline approaching, not a single member state has yet submitted the Climate Social Plan required to receive funding from the Social Climate Fund from 2026 onwards.

In its Communication on the competitiveness compass, the EU Commission outlines measures to strengthen the EU's competitiveness. However, according to AK, to ensure that the compass needle points in the right direction it is essential to place greater emphasis on people. AK therefore advocates a high-road strategy that promotes skills and innovation, targeted industrial policy, future investments and high standards of protection for workers and consumers.

Public procurement law regulates the procurement of services by public authorities. The EU Commission aims at revising the currently applicable EU public procurement directives from 2014; as a result, a public consultation was undertaken from 13 December 2024 to 7 March 2025. AK participated and put forward several proposals and demands. Overall, greater consideration must be given to social and environmental aspects when awarding public contracts.

Trump's economic policy, often referred to as ”Trumponomics”, is currently dominating the debate in Brussels. The US president aims to reshape the US through massive fiscal and trade measures. This also poses significant challenges for Europe. A few weeks after Donald Trump was sworn into office for a second time, it is worth giving an initial overview of his plans and their impact.

The green and digital transformation, the pursuit of competitiveness and the plans to expand defence in Europe are creating a massive need for investment and financing. In view of this, the completion of the Capital Market Union is to be driven forward again under the title ‘Savings and Investment Union’. However, this contains several elements that need to be viewed critically.

The EU Commission is planning to revise the EU public procurement directives. A public consultation was carried out from 13 December 2024 to 7 March 2025. AK participated in the consultation, taking this as an opportunity to make some suggestions regarding the reform.

Investment screenings are on the rise worldwide: from health and energy supply to green technology, public authorities show more vigilance for the protection of strategically important economic sectors and social infrastructures. In 2024, the European Commission proposed a new regulation for screening foreign investments in the EU.
 

By simplifying legislation, the EU Commission wants to increase the EU's competitiveness and ease the burden on companies. In this spirit, the so-called Omnibus Packages I and II were presented on 26 February 2025. While these proposals are presented as measures to reduce bureaucracy they actually undermine important achievements for workers, the environment and climate. Recently adopted laws for more sustainability run the risk of losing their effect.

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.