Brussels, 07/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Euro-demonstration of European trade unions for a social and united Europe gathered together, Wednesday in Nice, more than 70,000 participants, according to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) (Between 50 and 55,000 according to the French police). Forty national confederations affiliated with the ETUC had sent delegations. "A true success" for the ETUC whose Secretary General Emilio Gabaglio recalled the need to "show the summit of Heads of State and Government that the time has come to take Social Europe seriously, but also the send a message to citizens, namely that Europe thinks of citizen's and employees rights. There has always been a gap between the economic and social aspects and it is time to close it. We hope that the European summit will show intentions posted on clear signs that mean a social advance", concluded Mr Gabaglio.
Furthermore, anti-globalisation activists gathered, Wednesday and Thursday in the streets of Nice on the call from the associations (ATTAC, European march against unemployment), from women's and immigrant rights movements, the European trade union confederation of farmers and G 10, etc. According to their spokesperson, the aim of this mobilisation is "to put pressure on the EU guidelines at a time when the future of Europe is being played out. We want to insist on the social issues with the refusal of a Charter of Fundamental Rights that we consider to be a step back compared to international texts". Acts of violence have been committed, Thursday morning, mainly by rioters that attacked the police in the city centre.