As a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and economic retaliation measures, energy prices have reached record levels – and they continue to rise. At the same time, time is running out to counteract the climate crisis. For that reason, AK EUROPA and Oesterreichische Nationalbank hosted a joint event to discuss measures to tackle energy prices and inflation whilst at the same time accelerating the green transition.

On 19 September 2022, the EU Commission presented a Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI). Its focus will be on preserving free movement of goods, services and people as well as ensuring availability of essential goods and services in the event of future emergencies.

On 14 September 2022, the EU Commission presented a draft regulation, according to which products, which were made with forced labour, are to be banned from the European market. What Ursula von der Leyen had already announced in her 2021 State of the Union Address, has now been set in motion, albeit twelve months later. It is now up to the EU Parliament and the Council to negotiate the draft submitted.

In early 2022, the EU Commission proposed a supply chain law that would hold companies accountable for violations of human rights and environmental standards. But this is just the first step, as the proposal still has major gaps. This is why, in September 2022 the new Europe-wide campaign “Justice Is Everybody’s Business” started. As one of more than 100 participating organizations, AK EUROPA supports the campaign goal for more justice for people along corporate supply chains.

At this years State of the Union Address on 14 September 2022, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an excess profit (windfall) tax for energy companies. This means levying the profits generated by the energy sector due to rising energy prices and redistributing them to consumers. On the same day, Vice President Frans Timmermans and EU Commissioner Kadri Simson presented the concrete draft regulation.

On 6 September 2022 – coinciding with the latest negotiating round on the EU supply chain law in the European Council - a new campaign started under the headline “Justice Is Everybody’s Business”. Displaying the “Scales of Justice” in front of the main entrance of the Council building, numerous representatives of the more than 100 participating organisations, among them AK EUROPA, drew attention to the campaign’s demand to guarantee justice for people who suffer damage by bad business practices.

The Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) developed a model for taxing excess profits in the energy sector. It provides for taxation of 60% to 90%, limited to the years 2022 to 2024. There should be an immediate and full deduction option for investments in renewable energy sources.

The Industrial Emissions Directive regulates the impact of 52,000 large-scale industrial and livestock facilities with high pollution risk. An evaluation conducted in 2020 identified certain areas of improvement.

The Brussels Offices of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) are pleased to invite you to our event:

At least 10 percent of global deforestation is associated with importing and exporting products in and out of the EU. A new EU law shall prevent this deforestation in future. On 12 July 2022, the EU Parliament’s Committee on Environment has clearly supported a tightening of the Commission proposal on deforestation-free supply chains. In contrast, the Council as the second legislator of the Union, has severely watered down the Commission proposal.