A short while ago, the European Commission published its “Annual Growth Survey 2015”, thereby presenting its ideas for the European economic and financial policy. However, the economic assumptions, on which the annual analysis by the Commission is based, as well as the formulas shown therein, are neither objective, nor without alternative. In order to emphasize this, the so-called “Independent Annual Growth Survey” was presented in Brussels this week for the third time (after 2012 und 2013).

On Tuesday, the “Investments” Task Force, set up by the EU, published a report, which attributes an enormous investment potential to Europe. According to this report, there are over 2,000 projects with a combined investment potential of EUR 1,300 billion. EUR 500 billion could be implemented in the next three years alone. However, the danger is that many projects will not make it beyond the planning stage.

At a press conference on Tuesday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström announced a new approach in respect of transparency and openness regarding TTIP documents. The intention is to make more negotiation text available for the 751 Members of the European Parliament and their assistants.

Just less than two weeks until the EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers will meet in Brussels. This is the last opportunity for the Italian Council Presidency to prove whether it is capable of bringing important social policy initiatives to conclusion. However, the way things stand this is unlikely to be achieved, even though allegedly, the agenda includes politically charged dossiers. Thus, instead of political agreements one will only present reports to be at least able to show that one has definitely made an attempt to find solutions.

The austerity policy of the Troika is supposed to lead to the consolidation of public households; however, its impact on countries affected by the pressure to cut costs, has disastrous consequences in some cases. Already in the past, AK and ÖGB have time and again emphasised that the austerity programmes should not be used to abolish social standards, which had been contended successfully over many decades and to privatise important public sectors. Which concrete effects the policies of the Troika have, has been demonstrated in particular in the Greek healthcare sector.

CETA, the Free Trade Agreement between the EU und Canada came to its conclusion at the EU-Canada Summit on 26 September 2014 in Ottawa. CETA and TTIP also played a large role at the hearing of the designated EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in the European Parliament in Brussels this week. Even though she stood by the controversial Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), Malmström received majority approval of the competent committee.

The hearings of the 27 designated EU Commissioners in the EU Parliament have been taking place since the beginning of the week. Of particular interest was the hearing of the Belgian Christian Democrat Marianne Thyssen, who will be in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour mobility in the EU Commission - provided her appointment is confirmed by the EU Parliament. Thyssen’s absolute priorities include youth unemployment and the implementation of the European Youth Guarantee.

Last week, the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament froze part of the budget for expert groups of the EU Commission. The reason for this lies above all in the imbalanced composition of these external advisory committees. In doing so, the European Parliament follows the demand of AK and ÖGB to guarantee more internal transparency and less dominance of Big Business within the expert groups.

The negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between EU and Canada, which began in 2009, seem to have reached their conclusion. The intention is to declare the negotiations on the Agreement officially concluded within the scope of the EU-Canada Summit on 26.9.

In May 2014, 5.2 million of young people in the EU were unemployed. Against this background, the plenum of the EU Parliament initiated a discussion with representatives of the Council of Ministers and the Commission on the Youth Guarantee and its implementation in the individual Member States. Looking at the figures it becomes apparent that the situation, for example in Greece, Spain and Croatia remains changed. One out of two young people is still without a job.