19/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of macro-economic dialogue held on 15 February between the EU Council Presidency, the Commission, the European Central Bank and the Eurogroup president, on one hand, and social partners, on the other, the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), John Monks, said: “In Europe, governments and central banks rushed to rescue the banks. Now that the financial markets are turning against public finance, government must tighten their ranks to protect themselves against speculators. Europe urgently needs common euro-bonds, a European rating agency and new tax receipts, including a tax on financial transactions”. (G.B./transl.jl)