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.

On 7 September 2022, the EU Commission presented its proposal on a comprehensive European Care Strategy, whose aim it is to improve the situation of care recipients and care workers. The focus lies on guaranteeing access to care services in the entire EU and on improving the working conditions of care workers.

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.

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.

The adjustment of family benefits for EU citizens who work in Austria and whose children live in other EU countries, which has been in force since January 1, 2019, was classified as non-compatible with EU-law by the ECJ in June 2022. The indexation represents an unjustified discrimination due to citizenship and restricts the freedom of movement for workers. Austria must now refund the reduced amounts to those affected immediately.

The current working programme of the European Commission foresees that the Commission will present a European Care Strategy to improve the situation of care workers, as well as the quality of care for care receivers from elementary education and childcare to long-term care. With this new policy brief, AK puts forward crucial elements that should be covered in a European Care Strategy, including giving support to all people who are part of the process of care. Hence, to improve the provision of upbringing, education and care, their challenges have to be tackled holistically.

On 21 June 2022, Council and EU Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). A welcome step, as in future more information on social and environmental impact of corporate activities has to be disclosed. Sustainability reporting must become a main driver of socially-environmentally oriented governance.

On Tuesday, 7 June 2022, the EU legislators reached agreement in the negotiations on the Women on Boards Directive. From 2026, listed companies must fill at least 40% of their board positions with women or alternatively must have an average share of women of 33% for both executive boards, i. e. supervisory board and corporate board.

With a new resolution, the EU Parliament urged the EU Commission on 9 June 2022 to ban products from the EU market, which are made by forced labour and under inhumane conditions. AK welcomes this motion by the EU Parliament.

The EU Directive on minimum wages has taken an important step this week: on 7 June 2022, the negotiations between EU Commission, EU Parliament and Council reached a breakthrough in form of a provisional agreement. The main objectives of the Directive, to achieve fair wages in Europe and to strengthen collective bargaining, are important projects to advance a social Europe. It is to be welcomed that with this important socio-political legal act, the EU clearly departs from the austerity course of earlier years.