Feira, 20/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - More than 55,000 demonstrators mainly from the south of Europe demonstrated, Monday 19 June in Porto, after a call from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), for the return of full employment, but also for quality employment and against uncertainty. The Secretary General of the ETUC, Emilio Gabaglio, during the demonstration, called on the Heads of States and Government gathered at the Feira summit, asking them: Where are the political decision to implement the planned objective of full employment? Will the EU's macro-economic policies support stronger economic growth?" He also felt "we cannot accommodate the European social model without including fundamental rights, including social rights, into the Treaties."
The ETUC announced the intention of organising another similar demonstration during the next summit, in December, at the end of the French Presidency of the Council.