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Chair, Cándido, Dear Friends,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address your congress on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Spain, Spanish citizens, Spanish workers in recent years, months and indeed days, have been going through an extraordinary painful process.

Under the current harsh policies being imposed throughout Europe, but of which you are among the greatest victims, you are suffering cuts in wages, cuts in pensions, cuts in social provisions, the selling of public assets and attacks on industrial relations, on collective bargaining,

All of this in the context of mass unemployment, particularly among young people, and increasing political uncertainty.

This cannot go on. The system is reaching breaking point.

I am here to bring you a message on behalf of all trade unions members of the ETUC, from North to South, from East to West.

This crisis originates in speculation, manipulation, credit excess. The workers you represent are not responsible for speculation, manipulation or credit excess.

This crisis originates in speculation, manipulation, credit excess. The workers you represent are not responsible for speculation, manipulation or credit excess.

I am also here to tell you that we are angry at the way political leadership has been dealing with this crisis.

Instead of showing solidarity in the interest of all European citizens, they have given priority to policies that exacerbated the crisis. The so-called cure is killing the patient.

Those policies are those of austerity.

Austerity is unfair, and therefore unacceptable because the most modest of a population have to bear the burden of this crisis. Austerity is unfair because it puts the burden of adjustment on those least able to adjust without falling into penury.

Austerity does not work: rather it adds a further twist to the recessionary spiral.

Austerity is a means of attacking the European Social model, made of social dialogue, public services and social protection. That model finds its reflection in the Treaties on which the European Union is founded.

Austerity is a means of attacking the European Social model, made of social dialogue, public services and social protection. That model finds its reflection in the Treaties on which the European Union is founded.

But these foundations are now being sapped.

Through austerity, neoliberal ideology is implementing its views: Workers in Europe should be less protected, trade unions should be weaker or eliminated, social security and public services should be privatised.

With you the ETUC is saying loudly and clearly: NO to these policies.

The ETUC says that it is necessary to return to sound accounts, to reduce public deficit and public debt; but we know that this will take time. We know that with no growth, cuts will bring more unemployment, more inequalities, more poverty.

Friends, what we need is solidarity. Because it is in the interest of all Europeans. Because we are all interdependent.

The ETUC has made concrete proposals for a New Social Compact for Europe.

It calls for solidarity in practice.

Economic solidarity means a large investment plan. Economic solidarity means Eurobonds. Economic solidarity means a European energy policy with a tax for the European budget.

We also need social solidarity.

And that means European minimum standards. The obligation of a decent wage everywhere. The obligation for each country to have a decent minimum income, to have unemployment benefits and social protection. Social solidarity means that the role of trade unions and collective bargaining must be promoted. Democracy does not stop at the polls. Trade unions, the right to organise and to negotiate is part of democratic rights; attacking those rights is attacking democracy.

Our proposals are on the table.

In a few weeks’ time the EU Council will discuss what the social dimension of the EMU should be.

We forced the social dimension onto their agenda: it wasn’t there previously.

In a few weeks’ time the EU Council will discuss what the social dimension of the EMU should be.

We forced the social dimension onto their agenda: it wasn’t there previously.

But there is in the trade union Movement widespread distrust that we will gain more than empty rhetoric.

But the EU must - I am saying "must"- have a social dimension. Workers reject downwards completion within a free trade zone. Workers want a European integration process which brings economic and social progress.

This is not what is happening today.

And that is dangerous. Very dangerous.

The temptation is to become anti-European. We are seeing this in elections and opinion polls in many of our countries.

But that is not the solution. In a more and more globalised world the solution is not to build new frontiers.

Trade unions are defending equality, social justice across borders. Those are trade union values. We will not stand with populist organisations.

Your history shows where that can lead. The 125 years of history that you are celebrating this year should give you strength in these difficult moments.

Solutions are to be found in determined action at national level. I would like here to express our admiration and support for the courageous stand of the Spanish trade union Movement.

Solutions also necessitate a better, stronger, and fairer, European Union. You can be sure of our determination in fighting for this.

Friends we are, you are part of the solution.

We must use all our strength to engage both in opposition and in proposition.

This is the job you are pressing at national level, against all kinds of obstacles, calumnies and lies from reactionary forces.

This is also our job, to support you at European level. We do, and we will. And I would also like to thank Manuel Bonmati, Manolo, Cándido for the tremendous part they are playing within the ETUC.

I wish him and all of you strength and determination to go through these difficult times and to build a better future.

Thank you for your attention.