Definitely ahead of schedule it appears that the European Parliament and the Council are close to reaching agreement on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The intention is reach finalization before the end of December. There seems to be agreement on most of the important political issues. After only six months of negotiations this would be a remarkable success. The ECI would give the citizens of the Union the opportunity to be directly involved in shaping the policy of the European Union.

The world economic crisis, which affected all Member States as a consequence of the heavy turbulences in the financial sector, made a very different impact on the employment situation across Europe. Austria for example belongs to that group of countries, where job cuts were far less severe than the recession itself.

This week, the EU Commission presented the Agenda for new skills and jobs. It is one of seven leading initiatives of the EU 2020 Strategy and shall contribute to achieving the envisaged EU employment rate of 75 % for women and men by 2020. According to the Commission, this requires reforming the labour markets, raising the standards of skills and matching them with market demand. The social partners are to play an important role in implementing the Agenda. But the EU Commission and the Member States are also called upon.

The Council and the European Parliament are currently deliberating on securing the quality of social services. The Council will adopt a relevant conclusion before the end of December; the European Parliament plans to set out its position in the middle of next year.

This week, during a discussion of the Brussels Think Tank European Policy Centre, European Council President Van Rompuy used dramatic words to describe the development of the European Union. The Member States of the EU were strongly dependent on each other, said Van Rompuy. This had been clearly demonstrated in spring 2010, when one had taken joint steps to combat the crisis of the public-sector budgets. As recently as at the G20 meeting in June, the EU had been regarded as a sick patent.

This week, the EU Economic and Finance Ministers met in Brussels to attend a regular meeting in tense economic times. The official agenda included among others the follow-up to the meeting of the heads of state and government in October and to the meeting of the G20 in Seoul last week.

This week, the European Commission has presented its annual report on those countries, which have already made an application for EU membership or which are potential candidates for an application. 9 states are interested in joining the EU, whereby most progress has been made concerning the negotiations with Croatia.

This week, the responsible committees in the European Parliament (EP) discussed the first draft reports in respect of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). Naturally, the rapporteurs did not quite adhere to the proposal of the EU Commission and suggested a number of changes. It was among others requested that the organisers of a citizens' initiative should join together in a citizens' committee.

A new Communication on the EU financial framework has now started the official discussion on a reform of the budget of the European Union. Behind the scenes, however, negotiations have been ongoing for months, who should benefit from the EU funds. What is particularly conspicuous is the fact that the Commission hardly mentions its Common agricultural policy in the 28-page strong work. It just devotes slightly more than a page to the area, which in 2009 alone, received € 50 billion or 45 percent from the total funds of the EU budget.

This week, the French Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier presented in Brussels the plans of the Commission on the future of the internal market. "The markets must benefit the economy and our citizens", said Barnier. Whether the 50 proposals, which the Commission has presented, have done anything to improve the somewhat damaged trust of workers in the EU remains to be seen.