The European Commission is always full of surprises, an ability, which it has impressively demonstrated - unfortunately not in a positive sense - with its Communication “REFIT - Fit for growth”, which appears to be rather insignificant at first glance, only to reveal unforeseen cuts for employees at closer look. For example, the EU Commission does not want to “set in law” the agreement negotiated with EU social partners, which would have improved health and safety issues for hairdressers!

On 2 October, László Andor the Commissioner responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion presented the long-awaited Communication on the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union. In view of mass unemployment in Europe, expectations were definitely high. Hopes had been pinned on an alternative to neoliberal austerity policy. What emerged, are proposals for some voluntary measures and a dangerous focus on neoliberal structural reforms.

This week, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament put a stop to the plan by the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) respectively to extend the working hours of airline pilots. According to an Implementing Regulation draft of the Commission, a maximum daily flight time up to 13 hours would have been permitted. However, the Transport Committee has now rejected this plan with a clear majority.

Under Commissioner Michel Barnier of the Directorate General for Internal Market and Services, the European Commission has published a Communication, which caused a stir in particular with German trade associations. The reason for their displeasure is the discussion of the question, which professions are resp. will in future be subject to national restrictions. Whilst the Commission declares that this was only an attempt to create more transparency, German business representatives fear an attack on Germany’s competitiveness.

On 25.9.2013, the Commission published its Competitiveness Report, which measures the competitiveness of the Member States based on certain criteria and shows areas, in which, from the point of view of the Commission, taking measures is required. The Report, which was drawn up by the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, emphasizes significantly different features compared to the neoliberal concepts, which in particular emerge from the Directorate-General for Economics and Financial Affairs on a regular basis.

In June this year, the European Commission proposed a Directive on implementing a mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation. However, the objective of the draft is not the Europeanization of national competencies with regard to collecting taxes. Instead, national tax authorities of the Member States shall only automatically exchange certain financial information. Rapporteur George Sabin Cutaş (S&D), member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament has commented on the draft proposal.

This week, the European Parliament considered the question whether financial participation of employees in their own company is a good thing. According to the Liberal rapporteur Phil Bennion, the concept of employee participation would only be positive, whether it was in respect of employment, fighting poverty, modernising labour markets or social protection He even demands a separate optional 29th set of rules, which should be available to all employers in the EU.

The further development of consumer protection in the area of the European telecommunications market is an issue of particular interest to the Federal Chamber of Labour (AK). It therefore welcomes the efforts of the EU Commission to promote the European internal market in electronic communications.

Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Parliament agreed the final details for setting up a Single European Supervisory Mechanism (Single Supervisory Mechanism - SSM). The SSM will sit with the ECB. This is not ideal, but the European Parliament was at least able to secure far-reaching supervisory rights. However, there is still some way to go until the European Banking Union has been achieved - and even that is not enough.

Last year, when EU Commissioner Reding presented a proposal on introducing a, albight not binding quota for women on supervisory boards of companies listed on stock exchanges, nobody was under the illusion that this would pave the way for a solution. In the past, voices in the European Parliament had time and again emphatically demanded a legal quota. Now one cannot help thinking that the European Parliament has got cold feet or that many MEPs are showing their true colours when push comes to shove.