The Mobility Package, which was extremely controversially discussed by the EU institutions since May 2017, is nearing completion. As this Package newly regulates the working and social conditions for HGV and bus drivers as well as market access for transport companies, it could have made a large contribution to the fight against wage and social dumping. However, the agreement of the trilogue negotiations between Council, Parliament and Commission, which was reached on 12th  December 2019, only provides actual improvements for the driving personnel in some points.

For a conference at the European Parliament, the GUE/NGL faction invited representatives from both areas affected by the negotiations to exchange views. It became clear that trade unions, environmental organisations and human rights NGOs from both sides of the Atlantic reject the agreement. The reasons for this are manifold, but everyone agrees: the planned EU-MERCOSUR Trade Agreement is a threat to people and nature.

The Communication from the European Commission on the Green Deal for Europe on 11th December 2019 had been awaited with much anticipation. During its presentation in the European Parliament, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that it was not the objective of the EU Commission to “find out what the costs of non-action would be”.

For decades, companies have been deploying the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) to sue 55 Member States in investor state dispute settlement proceedings for amounts running into billions if these, due to (environmental) laws, risked reducing their chances of making profit. The Energy Charter Treaty in particular precludes the fight against the climate crisis and the necessary conversion to CO2 neutral energy, like the phase-out of oil and coal.

Due to the fact that their predecessors had been rejected by the European Parliament, the hearings of the three Commission candidates, who were subsequently nominated by their Member States, took place on 15th November 2019 before the European Parliament. Particular focus was put on the Rumanian Adina Vălean, who had been recommended for transport matters. Especially this policy area requires significant changes if the EU really wants to achieve the targets of a CO2-neutral continent by 2050 and a socially fair transition.

European Commission, Council and Parliament are currently negotiating the final version of the so-called Mobility Package within the trilogue process. A debate in the Employment Committee on the current state of the negotiations showed that many key issues are still open. However, from the AK’s point of view there are many red lines, which have to be taken into consideration to ensure that the Package does indeed improve drivers’ working conditions and that wage and social dumping is effectively combatted.

The bankruptcy of the travel agency Thomas Cook on 23rd September 2019 left more than 600,000 travellers stranded at their holiday destinations and put 22,000 jobs at risk worldwide. Due to these dimensions, the European Parliament on 24th October 2019 adopted a resolution on the negative effects of Thomas Cook bankruptcy on European tourism and set out measures to improve the protection of travellers with a clear majority.

AK expects that the incoming Commission will continue on the path of multilateral, ambitious climate policy, further evolution of its goals and the continuation of its leading role in international negotiations. Questions of social justice – in particular the distribution of costs of restructuring and adapting the system, the effects on the quality and quantity of employment as well as negative effects on the workers affected – must be at the heart of the definition of targets and the implementation of climate policy.

The Commission President-designate Ursula von der Leyen has made the fight against climate change one of the top priorities of her new Commission. From the AK’s point of view, this approach is to be welcomed. However, it must be ensured that the measures, which will be taken in future, will be socially just: Europe needs a “just transition”.

The Commissioner-designate for Environment and Oceans, Virginijus Sinkevičius from Lithuania was given the task by future Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to - among other - ensure improved air and water quality. From the Chamber of Labour’s point of view, this target is to be welcomed; after all, currently changes to Europe’s water policy are being discussed on EU level.