Last week, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs voted on the long awaited “Thyssen Report”, based on which the European Parliament presents its requests for the future of Europe. The Report was adopted by an overwhelming majority. In some points, the ideas of the Parliament are substantially different from the ideas of the four Presidents: Council President Herman Van Rompuy, ECB boss Mario Draghi, Eurogroup boss Jean-Claude Juncker and Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

South Korea shall implement the core labour standards adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), demanded several MEPs at a workshop in the European Parliament, which was held to mark the first anniversary of the EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Even though, Korea is a member of ILO, she still has not implemented all core labour standards, such as the collective bargaining convention, non-discrimination at work or the forced labour convention.

Europe is faced with huge challenges: growing global competition, the high proportion of low-skilled workers, an aging society and the alarmingly high number of young people without a job. In times like this, vocational education and training is of utmost importance. Austria has shown during the economic crisis that solid vocational education and training can help tackling youth unemployment.

A long and hard battle with constant ups and downs. Now the struggle seems slowly to pay off. First the European Commission was reluctant to present a proposal on the introduction of the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). Following weeks of heavy barrage by trade unions and civil society with major involvement of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK), the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB), national and European trade unions and their umbrella organisations as well as a broad coalition of civil society organisations, Barroso and Co.

For the first time since the debate on a Common European Sales Law started in the European Parliament, a text has now been presented, which gives more details as to how the responsible MEPs Klaus-Heiner Lehne (European People’s Party) and Luigi Berlinguer (Socialists & Democrats) are intending to amend the proposal by the Commission. However, regards contents the position of the MEPs in charge is still disappointing when it comes to important issues.

Next week, the Ministers for Social Affairs and Employment will come together for their regular meeting. One point on the agenda - no surprises here - is a plan for tackling youth unemployment and creating jobs. Compared to overall unemployment figures in Europe, the number of young people out of a job is more than twice as high. An alarm signal that requires urgent action. That this sad statistic is often accompanied by a call for structural reforms, is unfortunately the usual game. It is a thinly veiled disguise for reducing the welfare state and workers’ rights.

On September 12, Commission President Barroso held his annual State of the Union Address before the European Parliament. Prior to its delivery, spokespersons for the Commission had already hailed the speech as being groundbreaking. It included both further plans of the European Commission and the exact form the single supervisory mechanism will take. Overall, the speech did not contain many new aspects.

The EU Commission had the best intentions when it planned to introduce rules for cross-border strikes and the relation between economic market freedoms and the right to strike, which had become necessary due to a legislative proposal. However, unfortunately the Commission didn’t count it chickens before they were hatched - in the end, it was brought to its knees by Council and Parliament!

On September 2012, internal market commissioner Michel Barnier presented the package for banking supervision, which has been in progress since June and which shall guarantee an independent and democratic control of the Euro banks.

Many have already experienced this: one is looking forward to the summer holidays for months and as soon as one arrives at the hotel, nothing is as promised on the internet or by the travel agency. To get compensation for services which were either not or unsatisfactorily provided is often a difficult process. For many, taking a company to court is far too expensive and too time-consuming. By making proposals on out-of-court settlements or alternative dispute resolution in case of disputes between consumers and companies, the European Commission intends to remedy the situation.