March against austerity in Brussels

Thousands of people, 5,000 according to police, demonstrated in Brussels today, following a call from major European unions, to denounce the imminent return of EU fiscal rules synonymous with public spending restrictions.

This “march against austerity” was organized at the initiative of the European Trade Union Confederation (CES), which says it represents 89 national unions in about 40 countries.

Belgians, Italians, French and Spaniards walked side by side in the streets of Brussels, behind the colors of their unions, red, blue or green.

Marie-Hélène Ska, Secretary General of the Belgian Christian Trade Union Confederation, told AFP, “What is on the (European Union) table today is an austerity solution and we do not want it anymore.”

Trade unions are expressing concerns about the return of European Stability and Growth Pact rules expected on January 1, which they say could “stifle” public spending, especially in heavily indebted countries. The key limits set at 3% and 60% of GDP for budget deficit and debt respectively will be reinstated.

This pact was canceled in early 2020 to avoid the collapse of economic activity affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the post-war in Ukraine. The twenty-seven member states of the European Union are currently discussing reform of the Charter, with rules that can be tailored to suit each country’s specific situation.

According to Ska, Belgium, one of the most indebted countries in the European Union, may need to save “an additional 28 billion euros” over the next seven years.

“At this moment, more than ever, we need major investments in the public sectors, in the environmental transition.” The union added: “We demand flexible standards that take into account carbon neutrality to achieve it in 2050.”

For Coradine Colente, a French post office employee who arrived in Brussels from Lille in northern France on a bus chartered by the CGT union, “there are very good reasons to bang our hands on the table in all countries.” “Almost everywhere in business, we are being asked to do more work with fewer people and wages that have been frozen for years.”