Today, we experience individualisation and personal optimisation, both at home and in the world of work. This has psychological and social consequences for us all. For example, many people in the EU are affected by loneliness. On 9 July 2025, an AK EUROPA event was held in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg with AK President Renate Anderl and MEP Evelyn Regner, during which challenges and possible solutions were discussed.

Even before implementing this directive in the Member States, EU institutions have currently been working on ultimately reversing key elements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive as part of the Sustainability Omnibus or Omnibus I. The potential impact of Omnibus I was discussed this week at a joint event organised by AK EUROPA, the ÖGB European Office, ETUC, ECCJ and FoEE.

On 2 June 2025, the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) presented this year's edition of the Benchmarking Working Europe report at a joint event with AK EUROPA in Brussels. In light of the ongoing political discourse, the 2025 report highlights the importance of quality jobs for sustainable competitiveness. The critical examination of the concept of competitiveness was also a central theme of the event.

The European Pillar of Social Rights brought new momentum to social Europe in the last EU legislative period. Important political initiatives were launched, including minimum wages, platform work and gender equality. The current focus of EU policy is on deregulation and competitiveness, while social objectives are coming under pressure. On 3 June, an AK EUROPA Round Table was held in Brussels with AK President Renate Anderl, during which impetus was given for the further implementation of the pillar.

On 26 February 2025, the EU Commission presented the first of several omnibus packages (Omnibus I). Key instruments of the Green Deal will be weakened, in particular the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

The EU Minimum Wage Directive was adopted in 2022 and is a milestone of social Europe. It provides a framework for the adequacy of statutory minimum wages and the promotion of collective bargaining. Denmark disagrees with the directive and brought an action for annulment before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2023, supported by Sweden. The ECJ is now examining the repeal of the directive. There are strong legal arguments in favour of maintaining it. Whether the ECJ takes up these arguments remains to be seen.

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.

Forced labour is widespread globally and affects around 28 million people. In the Indian state of Maharashtra, agricultural workers harvesting sugarcane are forced into debt bondage. The ongoing negotiations on the EU-India Strategic Partnership provided the framework for a joint event hosted by AK EUROPA and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels on 8 April 2025. Labour rights activist Chandan Kumar reported on the exploitation of sugarcane workers and organising under difficult conditions.

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.