On 15 July 2020, the EU Commission adopted a tax package with the aim of improving cooperation between tax authorities, to reduce red tape and to reform the code of conduct concerning business taxation. The Chamber of Labour welcomes the package as an important step in the right direction; however, it demands the implementation of additional measures.

The European Commission increases its pace to achieve a climate neutral Europe. On 14th October 2020, it published three strategies, which shall take the next steps to implement the Green Deal. One of them concerns a renovation wave with the aim to double the renovation rate.

In May 2020, the European Commission presented the “Farm to Fork Strategy” as well as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to achieve a more climate-friendly agricultural and food system as well as more biodiversity. The Austrian Chamber of Labour welcomes the path taken; however, measures should be socially fair and in accordance with workers’ and consumers’ demands.

Multinational corporations are not paying their fair share of corporate taxes. At the OECD level, finance ministers currently have the opportunity to set a milestone and redress this injustice that already exists for decades. Therefore, AK EUROPA and ÖGB Europabüro have launched the social media campaign „Make Multinationals Pay“.

Following the resignation of former Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, the Commission has reassigned two portfolios. Whilst in future, Vice Commission President Valdis Dombrovskis will also be responsible for trade policy, the Irish politician Mairead McGuinness will assume the financial services portfolio.

Due to the blockade of some Member States in the Council, the Commission’s Directive for a Proposal to increase the women’s share on boards to 40 % has been on hold since 2012. Now, the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, wants to get the directive off the ground again; the European Parliament supports this proposal.

In her State of the Union Address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen named the completion of the Capital Markets Union as one of the priority projects, which she intended to proceed with straight away. This was followed a week later, on 24 September 2020, by a Communication which announces 16 concrete proposals for the coming months.

In order to implement the Green Deal, it is of vital importance to make the energy sector more efficient and to increase renewable energy sources. The Austrian Chamber of Labour has participated in the Consultation of the European Commission and stresses: the spotlight has to be put on the distribution policy effects of energy transition.

On 21 July 2020, the European Council agreed to the largest budget package in the EU’s history. However, immediately afterwards a clear majority of MEPs opposed the Council Decision. The European Parliament Committee on Budgets has now debated the state of the negotiations.