The Federal Chamber of Labour (BAK) considers the proposal made by the EC, and consequently also the CO2 targets for manufacturers, inadequate. The main points of criticism are that the proposal lacks ambition in light of the climate policy challenges to be met and that it is not embedded in a larger framework, without which the automotive industry, a key sector in terms of employment and industrial policy, will be unable to cope with the approaching structural transformation.

At the beginning of the year, the European Commission presented the proposal for a revision of the Drinking Water Directive. In doing so, the demands of the successful European Citizens’ Initiative “Right2Water”, which was signed by 1.8 Million EU citizens in 2013, have been addressed for the first time. However, from the Chamber of Labour’s point of view the right to clean and affordable drinking water has not been sufficiently implemented in the draft proposal.

For over a year, the European Parliament has been debating the Commission proposal on applying the special regulations in road transport on the Posting of Workers Directive (‘Lex specialis’), the Regulation on driving times and rest periods for professional drivers as well as cabotage. However, after the vote in plenary on 4th July it is back to square one as all three reports were rejected by the majority in parliament!

The creation of a European Labour Authority has been an important demand of both Chamber of Labour and trade unions for a long time. In Brussels, representatives of AK Lower Austria and a high-ranking panel debated the planned authority and explained its relevance in respect to the fight against wage and social dumping by the example of Lower Austria. In view of the forthcoming Council Presidency, the Commission representative called on the Austrian Federal Government, to proactively pursue the legislative proposal on the Labour Authority at Council level.

From an employee’s point of view, the vote by the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) on 4th June 2018 as regards to the laying down specific rules Directive for posting drivers in the road transport sector (Lex Specialis) and the regulation on driving times and rest periods for professional drivers produced catastrophic results. Instead of sending a strong signal against social dumping on Europe’s roads, the majority of MEPs voted in favour of greater competition at the expense of employees in road transport.

It has been a well-known fact for some time that plastic waste represents an immense problem, in particular from a global view. Nevertheless, the initiative by the Commission from 28th May 2018 is remarkable as it recommends no less than the ban on plastic products, which are also available and affordable from other materials. Apart from plastic plates and cutlery, the range also includes straws and plastic cotton buds.

The reorientation of the transport policy at EU level is in full swing: whilst on Thursday, 24th of May 2018, the European Parliament's Committee on Transport, voted on the first part of the Mobility Package “Europe on the Move” and in doing so supported the ban of vignettes on Europe’s motorways, which is currently being discussed, a week earlier, the Commission had presented the third and so far last Mobility Package.

It belongs to the most controversially debated legislative proposals, which are currently negotiated by Parliament and Council: the “lex specialis” on the Posting of Workers Directive, which should regulate to what extent the generally accepted Posting of Workers Directive has to be applied in the road transport sector - or not, as the case may be. The European Parliament's Committee on Employment has now sent a clear and unambiguous signal and voted on 25th April 2018 with a majority against substantial exemptions.

In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) identified that due to the high temperatures when processing vegetable oils two substances occur, which probably have to be rated as carcinogenic and genetically harmful. The highest concentration of these substances are to be found in palm oil, which - different from other vegetable oils - must always be heated to a high temperature, prior to being processed in foodstuff. Because of their eating habits and their lower weight, children are regarded as even more at risk than adults.

Ten months after the publication of the first Mobility Package “Europe on the Move”, the negotiations on the dossiers in the Committee on Transport and Tourism are entering into the decisive phase. The draft reports for the eight dossiers have been submitted and the deadline for tabling amendments has expired. Now, report and shadow rapporteurs are working on possible compromise amendments to find majority for the planned vote in May. However, with regard to social legislation, the positions are still far apart.