Scandals such as Dieselgate and Cambridge Analytica have clearly exposed the fact that law enforcement for consumers in Europe – in particular in comparison to the USA – is insufficient. Hence, the proposal for a Directive on representative actions is an important milestone for European consumers. The trilogue negotiations on this important legal act will start In January.

Particularly in the run up to Christmas, Amazon’s business is booming. Criticism of the tech giant appears not to have impact on consumers’ shopping behaviour -  the power of the company, based on dubious and anti-trade union strategies, is growing.

In countries such as Germany and France, every three days a woman is killed by a violent partner or ex-partner. So far in 2019, the number of victims in Austria has reached 19. The 25th November reminds us year after year that violence against women and girls remains at a constant high level. The ratification of the so-called Istanbul Convention at EU level would be a step in the right direction.

In the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, unemployment figures reached a peak of more than 26 million in the EU in 2013. Principle 13 of the European Pillar of Social Rights states that the unemployed have the right to adequate unemployment benefits of reasonable duration. Unemployment insurance schemes exist in all EU Member states, however they vary considerably and do not always offer sufficient protection. AK proposes the introduction of common minimum standards for unemployment insurance schemes in EU Member States.

Within the scope of an evening event, AK EUROPA, the Brussels liaison offices of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB Europabüro) and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) presented perspectives on European minimum standards in unemployment insurance and minimum income schemes on 14th November 2019. The timing was well chosen; after all, the event took place shortly before the second birthday of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and provided important impetus for the new European legislative period. 

The results of researching social mobility in Europe were presented and associated problems and possible solutions were discussed during a high-level event organised by the European Parliamentary Research Service. It was acknowledged that social status and education in Europe are still inherited.

On 6th November 2019, the Social Protection Committee published its Annual Report on the social situation in Europe. The Committee, which consists of representatives of Member States and the Commission, advises the Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) and provides comprehensive analyses regarding the social security of citizens in Europe. 

Poor and Unemployed? European Answers Needed!

The Brussels liaison offices of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) cordially invite you to the following event:

Last week, on 21.10.2019, the time had come again: Equal Pay Day in Austria and thereby the day, which depicts symbolically the pay gaps between women and men. In statistical terms, from 21st October to the end of the year women compared to men, will work for free – for a period of exactly 72 days.

The EU wants to use the European Semester to better coordinate the economic policy of Member States in order to be more effectively equipped against economic crises. In order to make in particular the euro states more competitive, the European Commission proposed in July 2019 an additional governance framework, which shall set the reform and investment priorities for the Eurozone. However, from the AK EUROPA’s point of view, this proposal goes into the wrong direction.