Brussels, 16/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The 12th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) began its deliberations in Athens on Monday 16 May to determine its strategy against what it sees as the ferocious attacks on workers' rights and conditions taking place in Europe, and to show trade union solidarity. Why was Athens chosen as the venue? “Because it is the eye of the storm which threatens Europe and the euro. Greece was first country into trouble but it is not the last. Greece was the cradle of Western civilisation, now it is the cradle of Europe's economic crisis”, ETUC General Secretary John Monks told the more than 500 delegates from 36 countries (see EUROPE 10360).
The situation in which Greece finds itself is partly of its own making - problems with tax collection in particular. Nevertheless, the EU/IMF terms “have been too tough. The debt repayments are too much, too soon. We have said that from the start”, said Monks. He argued that some debt restructuring, some easing of the austerity terms, with reciprocal action by Greece was urgently needed. “The only way Greece will meet its obligations is through growth, through the rich and comfortable meeting their obligations to the country especially on tax, and through agreed programmes including with unions about the necessary action to be taken. It's time for Greece to pull together, not fracture - and it is time for the EU to help”: that is the single message from the Congress, stated forcefully by its secretary general.
According to Monks, it is clear that the EU must (1) “alter its direction of travel, give growth more help than just the warm words of EU 2020” and not allow economic governance to be just austerity governance; (2) “give equality more prominence”; (3) “restore the drive for a more sustainable environment and sustainable economies”; (4) tackle the rise of the Eurosceptic and nationalist Right “who will wreck the EU and their neighbours if they ever come to power”. (G.B./transl.rt)