In response to the still extremely high and volatile energy prices, the EU Commission announced additional short-term intervention measures in the market. The AK welcomes the proposed measures. It is now up to the Member States to take them up and to implement them as soon as possible. Following the example of Spain and Portugal, it would be particularly beneficial to introduce a price cap for electricity-generating gas power plants. Such a cap would significantly lower the electricity price and take the pressure off the economy.

AK welcomes the proposed Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. As this AK EUROPA position paper shows, however, the text in its current form contains numerous weaknesses and loopholes that threaten to undermine effective regulation. In order to actually meet the self-imposed goal of better protecting human rights and the environment in transnational corporate activities, the present draft must therefore be fundamentally improved.

The Labour Market Monitor 2021 shows that some countries came through the crisis relatively unscathed, whereas others appear to be less resilient. Austria is falling behind top performers in some areas, but is mainly still above EU average. Only regarding the exclusion risks on the labour market, Austria is behind other EU countries.

With its updated and modernised rules on the Industrial Emissions Directive, the EU Commission wants to guide industrial investments necessary for Europe's transformation towards a zero-pollution, competitive, climate-neutral economy by 2050. This shall spur innovation, reward frontrunners and help level the playing field on the EU market.

From 2023, an effective minimum tax rate of 15% shall apply to large corporations operating in the EU. The vote of Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) in the Council on 15 March 2022 failed to reach agreement on global minimum tax rates: 4 countries voted against the compromise; however, the Council requires unanimity in matters of tax.   

On 8 March 2022, the EU Commission published the Communication “REPowerEU” containing measures to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030 as well as to tackle current extreme energy prices.

In December 2021, the EU Commission put forward a proposal for a Directive to introduce a global minimum tax of 15 % in all Member States. The Directive’s basis is the OECD Inclusive Framework Agreement of 8 October 2021, where more than 130 countries agreed on common minimum tax rules. Although AK favours much stricter corporate tax rules in principle, it recognizes the Agreement as an important step towards more tax justice. However, this must be followed by further steps.

After an eight months’ delay, it finally happened on 23 February 2022: the EU Commission presented its proposal for an EU supply chain law. AK and ÖGB have been requesting binding rules for more corporate responsibility along supply chains for a long time. The Commission’s proposal got a mixed response, but made one thing clear: EU Parliament and Member States are urgently required to improve the proposal to make sure that the EU supply chain law reaches its full potential.