European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
whole legislation
Federal energy efficiency act
The guideline value for final energy consumption in one year was reduced to 920 petajoules (PJ) for 2030, instead of the previous 1,050 PJ. The targets for cumulative final energy savings measures are 650 PJ (by the end of 2030). 250 PJ will come from the coffers of federal funds, and 400 PJ will be identified from so-called "strategic measures." Details of these measures are specified by the federal and state governments in their interaction up to 2024. The savings potentials are based on a short study by the Federal Environment Agency GmbH (UBA). Energy efficiency measures, such as waste heat recovery, component refurbishment, heating check or zero-emission vehicles, were evaluated and a savings potential of 338 PJ (93,807 GWh) was accumulated from 2021 to 2030.
The share of renewable energies thus increases by 0.43% in the industry sector due to the calculated potential of the measures.
Strategic measures include energy taxes, corporate environmental protection subsidy schemes, refurbishment activities/vouchers, housing and energy subsidies.
For example, all energy suppliers (except for very small businesses with less than 50 employees or less than € 10 millions turnover and less than € 10 millions of total assets ) are obliged to conduct an external energy audit every four years, or alternatively set up a certified energy or environmental management system, to reach a target of 0.6% annual increase in the energy savings obligation system.
A minimum amount of compensation of €0.2/kWh will be required if the energy suppliers fail to provide proof for the required energy efficiency measures. The rate of compensation is determined by the average marginal cost and the minimum amount of compensation.
Administrative fines ranging from €10,000 to €100,000 will be imposed depending on the nature of an offence committed by an energy supplier. The offence varies from energy supplier not complying with its reporting obligations, providing false information to the monitoring body, failing to set up an advice and counselling centre for customers, to energy supplier failing to fulfil their individual energy saving obligation, not initiating tender proceedings or not making compensation payments in time.
Climate and energy fund act
The climate and energy fund act is intended to support the development of a sustainable energy system for Austria and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to reduce energy consumption by 25% by 2010 and 45% by 2020, and to improve energy intensity by at least 5% by 2010 and by 20% by 2020. The climate and energy fund is established to give financial support with a particular focus on three key areas: to research into renewable energy systems, to promote projects in developing environmentally friendly public transport systems, and to support projects in accelerating commercial climate mitigation measures.
Climate protection act
This federal regulation aims to support the coordinated implementation of effective climate protection measures, which will lead to a measurable, reportable and verifiable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or enhancement of carbon sinks.
The act specifies the greenhouse gas emission thresholds for six sectors not covered under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for the period 2008-2012 and the period 2013-2020: waste, energy and industry not covered under the EU ETS, fluorinated gas, buildings, agriculture, and transportation. A National Climate Protection Committee has been established under this act with main responsibility of advising on fundamental issues related to the Austrian climate policy, particularly on the long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emission, as well as on increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption.
The Energy Efficiency Directive (RL 2012/27/EU) of the European Union, last amended by the Delegated Regulation 2023/807 of the European Commission, provides a framework for the implementation of measures to improve energy efficiency for the Member States. The aim of the directive is to improve energy efficiency by 32.5% by 2030.
Amendments to the climate and energy fund act was introduced in 2009. The amendments are namely on: Article 2 concerning the official representation of the fund; Article 6 dealing with members of the steering committee; Article 7 laying down provisions relating to the tasks of the committee; Article 8 on the composition of the advisory committee; and Article 15 concerning planning strategies.
The climate protection act was firstly amended in December 2013 and then amended in December 2015.
Eurofound (2021), Austria: Employer's obligation to improve energy efficiency, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/employers-obligation-to-improve-energy-efficiency/austria
Between the end of 2022 and the first half of 2023, almost 300,000 employees working for ‘big tech’ companies were laid off across the world, making headlines for months in global media. This development has been a shock, considering the high numbers of jobs in well-known tech corporations with a reputation for offering good working conditions and well-paid positions.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions. Many banks in the sector have been undergoing serial restructuring since the global financial crisis, and it is one of the few service sectors with stagnant or declining employment.
Since 2011, the Restructuring support instruments database of the EU PolicyWatch has been collecting information on measures that assist companies and workers to anticipate and manage restructuring. This article looks at measures in the database aimed at supporting employees and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022).
Eurofound’s European Restructuring Monitor database reveals the impact of the energy crisis on employment in the EU. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, energy prices have hit record highs. The European Commission imposed sanctions and limitations on the import of oil and gas from Russia, which has reacted by reneging on supply commitments to many Member States.
