Last week, AK EUROPA, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour and ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions hosted a high calibre panel discussion on the issue of regulatory cooperation in TTIP. Subject of the debate were the so-called non-tariff barriers to trade, which are to be reduced in the “novel” trade agreements TTIP and CETA by intensive cooperation of the legislators.

Since the beginning of this week, it is possible to ask MEPs within the scope of the AK EUROPA campaign “NO 2 ISDS” directly via email or Twitter in various languages to publicly commit against private investment arbitration courts (ISDS), which would give foreign companies unjustified privileges. We therefore once again ask for your support: visit our campaign homepage www.no2isds.eu and contact as many MEPs as possible with only a few clicks!

Join us in asking MEPs directly via Twitter and e-mail to say NO 2 ISDS!

This legal opinion focuses on the institutionalized regulatory cooperation envisaged in CETAand TTIP. It examines how these agreements jeopardize or safeguard the interests of workers,consumers and the environment.

As we informed several times before, we perceive a need to update the Integrated Guidelines; in particular, we have proposed a specific guideline for youth employment. Our basic comment on enhancing the endogenic forces for growth remains valid and must also be reflected in the Integrated Guidelines.

In light of the work in the European Parliament and in the Council relating to the "Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT)“, the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (BAK) has taken this opportunity to give an opinion on the subject.

This week, AK EUROPA, the Brussels office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, and the ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation hosted a panel discussion on a “Golden Investment Rule” for the European Union.

This week, the College of EU Commissioners held an initial debate on the EU’s asylum and migration policy for the coming years. Vice President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos presented the key points of the Agenda. As the subject had the highest priority, the planned strategy of the Commission would be finalized in May rather than June.

The Commission members announced four priorities, which the EU had to tackle within the coming years.