The targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 55 % below 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 have been enshrined in the European Climate Law. The Commission has now presented its “Fit for 55” package, outlining which concrete measures will be taken to accomplish these targets. Comprising of no fewer than eight Regulations, five Directives, two Communications and two Decisions, this package covers important sectors, which are needed to achieve climate neutrality.

On 1 July 2021, 130 OECD countries signed a declaration, in which they agreed on establishing a new framework for international tax reform for multinational companies.

On 1 July 2021, 130 countries agreed at OECD level to introduce a global minimum tax rate of 15 %. How this is technically possible at EU level and why this minimum tax rate has to become reality as soon as possible, was the subject of a webinar hosted by AK EUROPA and ÖGB Europabüro, which took place the same day the day agreement was reached.

There is no alternative to the fight against climate change. Global warming and the destruction of the environment endanger our natural livelihoods at an unparalleled speed. For Europe to achieve the trend reversal, one also needs a reform of the European state aid policy for renewable energies and climate protection measures. The European Commission has now launched a Consultation on exactly these aid guidelines.

AK EUROPA, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, and ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, would like to cordially invite you to our joint webinar "Effective Minimum Tax Rate Implementation in the EU: Why and How":

By now, the majority of Member States have submitted their national plans, disclosing their intentions as to how they want to invest the monies from the EU’s Recovery Fund. Itt is not only Austria having a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the recovery’s social dimension. Hence, AK EUROPA, together with 20 other organisations is calling upon EU Finance Ministers to adopt a socially just and environmentally sustainable course out of the crisis. Everybody will be able to sign the petition until 14 June 2021.

On 5th May 2021, the Commission presented its updated Industrial Strategy. The strategy not only affirms the current priorities, which were stipulated the year before, but also specifies new proposals to support SMEs. Together with the Industrial Strategy, the Commission has presented a proposal for a regulation on subsidies for third-countries, which distort the Internal Market.

After Member States so far have only submitted proposals of their national recovery and resilience plans to Brussels, Portugal was the first country to officially submit its plan on 22 April 2021. The current EU Presidency not only leads the way in terms of speed, but also with regard to content and the will to engage in discussions.

Mit dem Grünen Deal soll Europa bis 2050 der weltweit erste klimaneutrale Kontinent werden. Das erfordert einen grundlegenden Wandel unseres Wirtschaftssystems. Die AK kämpft dafür, dass dieser Übergang zur Klimaneu­tralität sozial gerecht gestaltet wird und nicht zu Lasten der ArbeitnehmerInnen geht. Im Kern geht es um die gewerkschaftliche Forderung nach einer „Just Transition“ – einem sozial gerechten Übergang.

The „Made in America Tax Plan“ of the new US government has strong implications for international tax negotiations at the OECD. Although no political decisions are to be expected before mid-2021, the US proposal could significantly boost ongoing negotiations. Not only to make an agreement that curbs profit shifting and tax competition more likely, but also to make it more effective.