Brussels, 31/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The words used by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to describe the informal meeting organised by the European Council in Brussels on Monday 30 January were: “No commitment, only empty words”. Although heads of state and government have decided to adopt “a consistent and broad-based approach” to promote job creation, particularly among young people, whose average unemployment rate in Europe stands at more than 21%, the unions consider that no promises are binding, particularly with regard to the draft treaty strengthening budgetary discipline. Promoting job creation through the European Social Funds or strengthening cross-border mobility seems to be an underlying watchword for the ETUC compared to the mechanisms which impose de facto and de jure on member states a more intensive application of austerity policies. On Tuesday 31 January, Bernadette Ségol, the secretary general of the ETUC said: “This treaty might reassure Kanzlerin Merkel's political friends, but not the millions of unemployed, poor or precarious workers in Europe who are waiting for decisive support from EU institutions.” (JK/transl.fl)