Brussels, 26/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - Under its slogan “Yes to European Solidarity - Yes to jobs and Workers' rights - No to Austerity”, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will take advantage from the meeting of EU economy and finance ministers (Ecofin) in Wroc³ow (Poland) on Saturday 17 September to hold a demonstration jointly organised with its Polish affiliates Solidarnosc and OPZZ.
“Now is the time to demonstrate real European leadership and to take the right decisions to bring about a change of course”, ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol argues in a press release issued on Thursday 25 August. The targets of the demonstration are the financial markets, speculation and austerity measures. The Euro-demonstration wants to send a clear message to European ministers, telling them they must accept their responsibilities and build the long-promised social Europe of fairness and solidarity. “After two years of devastating crisis, European leaders must make the choice of solidarity and not leave financial markets and ratings agencies in command”, states Ségol. But how? The ETUC picks up the idea currently finding favour of eurobonds. According to Ségol, “the pooling of risks (eurobonds) would offer new prospects” and put the brake on speculation. Bringing an end to tax havens, setting up a financial transaction tax and controlling ratings agencies are among the demands set out in the demonstration guide. A different approach to the crisis and solutions to it are there, Ségol says. “The European trade unions will march in the streets of Wroc³aw on 17 September to say that other choices have to be made and that we have to agree on European economic governance centred on solidarity and employment”, she argues. (J.K./transl.rt)