This week, the European Commission published detailed data on taxation trends in the European Union, Iceland and Norway. In the past years, in particular as a reaction to the crisis, the EU-27 states increased in particular indirect taxes. The race-to-the-bottom of corporate taxes slowed down during the crisis, whilst the tax burden on labour was reduced in some countries. However, another trend seems to emerge in Austria.

The Commission proposal on the EU budgets 2014 to 2020, which was presented this week, was to a large degree quite disappointing. For a long time, Commission President Barroso had been declaring that his top priorities were the reduction of unemployment and poverty as well as providing better education within the European Union. Now it has transpires that apart from general remarks on the Europe 2020 Strategy no new measures with regard to the EU Budget can be expected.

Last week, the EU Commission and the European Parliament launched the new Joint Transparency Register. In it, lobbyists, as well as advocacy groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) provide information on their objectives, budget, personnel and the organisation itself, which can be accessed by the public.

This week, the EU Commission organised a conference on the relation of fundamental social rights and economic freedoms in the EU in the light of the posting of workers. The subject matter is not new; however, in particular against the background of the Posting of Workers Directive and the planned related activities of the EU Commission, it is extremely fascinating. It is also closely related to the - from the point of view of the workers - scandalous judgements of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the cases of Laval and Viking.

At an event organised by the Greens/ European Free Alliance, participants discussed the alternatives to the austerity packages, which the Greek Parliament recently approved.

AK basically welcomes the initiative of the Commission to regulate credit agrements relating to residential property. It is concerned, however, about this task being done at the current time and under time pressure. Many Member States, including Austria, introduced new regulations for credit agreements relating to residential property while implementing the Consumer Credit Directive about one year ago. In Austria, all essential provisions apply equally to consumer credit agreements and residential property credit agreements with the exception of the right of withdrawal.

AK and ÖGB stick to their guns. Together with a large number of European trade unions, political and civil society organisations, they enter the next round in the fight for a European Financial Transaction Tax. This time, they need to convince the Heads of State and Governments. When they gather for their summit on 24 June in Brussels, they want to send a clear signal to Europe’s workers: the speculators will not get off scot-free! For this we need your support.

This Thursday, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection in the European Parliament has voted on a new consumer right in the European Union. In the run up to the vote, following a number of informal talks with the Council, agreement was reached between the two EU institutions. Both the vote in the plenum of the European Parliament and the approval at the next Council of Ministers are regarded as a mere formality. Most of the deteriorations for consumers included in the Commission proposal could be averted.

On 1 July, Poland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. On Tuesday, 31 May, the Polish Parliament approved the objectives of the Presidency. Security, economic growth and the internal market, as well as foreign and security policy are central issues of the programme.

On Tuesday, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament has agreed the report on the Directive proposal on Deposit Guarantee Schemes. Private savings deposits are to be guaranteed up to Euro 100,000 EU-wide. The Social Democrat rapporteur Peter Simon stated that this legislative change would be necessary to ensure that banks would take appropriate measures to secure these deposits and would not rely on the state to foot the bill in case of crisis.