The European trade union proposes a Social Compact for Europe
Assembled at its Executive Committee on 5 and 6 June 2012 in Brussels, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) proposed a social compact for a Europe of solidarity and cooperation to counter the Europe of competition and deregulation. Urgent and different political choices must be made as of today to get the Union out of the dangerous downward spiral in which it finds itself. Many European countries are faced with an emergency situation. Spain has just asked Europe for aid to recapitalise its banks. It now comes down to deciding the future of Europe and the fate of millions of citizens.
The European social model should be promoted, not attacked. As much as fundamental rights, wages also contribute to getting out of the crisis, whereas deregulation has contributed to an increase in unemployment and widened inequality to the point of creating an untenable economic but also political situation.
The European trade unions declared that we must turn our back once and for all on austerity measures that have impoverished millions of Europeans and stifled any possibility of recovery, whilst driving unemployment upwards. The ETUC is unanimous in proposing a compact for alternative policies in favour of growth and employment for all.
Bernadette Ségol, ETUC general secretary, stated: “Our message is starting to get through: austerity has failed. We need to concentrate on growth. However, we are not naïve. Even if we note a change in rhetoric, different positions on growth are clashing. There has been no change of course. That is why we call on European leaders to engage in a discussion on our proposal for a social compact for Europe, before the European Council at the end of June. More than ever before, Europeans have a feeling that they share the same history. We must all be up to this challenge, together.”
A Social Compact for Europe: http://www.etuc.org/a/10024
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