According to a current survey of the European Youth Forum, typical European interns are between 20 to 30 years old. Their internship lasts between 4 to 6 months. Only 25 % are able to support themselves on the basis of their internship pay. Nevertheless, the majority does one to two internships; hence they spend up to one year in precarious employment. They are inadequately paid and - independent of the economic sector - are only able to make ends meet with the support of their parents, savings or other financial benefits.

In the light of recent events, AK EUROPA, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour and the ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation hosted a well-attended and exciting panel discussion on the subject of “Labour migration into the EU - problem and potential”. The background of the event was among others formed by the recent proposals of the European Commission on seasonal workers and on the intra-corporate transfers of third country workers. However, the discussion also dealt with the future structure of EU migration policy.

This week, MEPs, scientists and stakeholders discussed the assessment of the current liberalisation measures in respect of public services. Scientists demanded that the experiences of the past 20 years concerning the liberalisation of public services were thoroughly reviewed at last. Previous examinations were not able to cover the various aspects of public services, criticised the researchers.

According to new calculations of the European Commission, the average debt of public budgets in the Eurozone will be about 88 % by the end of 2011. It is forecast that debts will decrease again from 2013; this, however, requires constant economic growth. With on average 4.3 % forecast for this year, public budget deficits are still significantly above the 2 % deficit from 2008, the year, in which the financial crisis began.

Recently, biting remarks of EU Commissioners Reding and Barnier directed at credit rating agencies made people sit up and take notice. The criticism refers in particular to the dubious conduct of the agencies against the background of the European rescue packages.

This week, the Institute of Economic and Social Research in the Hans-Böckler Foundation (WSI) presented the new European Tariff Study. This shows that this year in two out of three EU countries employees are threatened with real wage losses.

This week, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted on two applications concerning the support of Austrian Employees, who have lost their job because of the financial and economic crisis. About € 9.5 Million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund are to be made available for the ca. 430 employees.

From the point of view of trade unions, the EESC has taken a positive position towards central labour market policy challenges, which the European societies will be faced with due to the ageing population.

In future it will become mandatory to state allergens on food packaging; the origin of pork, lamb and goat meat as well as poultry has to be declared. These are only some of the new provisions, the European Parliament and the Council have agreed upon.

This week, the EU Parliament voted on a report on women in economic leadership roles. Currently the share of women in the highest decision-making bodies of the largest listed companies only makes up 10.9 %. In order to change this, the European Parliament (EP) has asked the EU Commission to prepare a proposal on a legal quota for women.