As the legal representation of over 3.7 million Austrian employees, it is of great importance to the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour that the European Union is not limited to a pure economic union. For us, the target, by which we want to measure European policies, remains a social union, based on solidarity and social justice, which focuses on the rights of European employees and consumers. In view of the devastating effects of the current economic and financial crisis, which has resulted in mass unemployment, economic stagnation, austerity programmes and the loss of future prospects for millions of young people, we urgently need an economic and socio-political change at European level! Only when justice and social balance become the key objectives of European policies, it will be possible to further develop the idea of a united and peaceful Europe and to hope for the approval of the European citizens. That is why we need joint initiatives, which aim to make sustainable growth, high-quality employment, equal opportunities and investments in the future a political priority.
These political goals can only be achieved in close cooperation with our allies from trade unions and civil society, beyond national borders and on both, national and European level. That is why we, as the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, are involved in the decision-making processes of the European Union right from the start. To help us to succeed in this task, our colleagues at the AK EUROPA office in Brussels are indispensable.