Yesterday’s reports that EU Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn may seek even further austerity measures from Member States should put working people accross Europe on their guard.
Fearful that some governments will lack the fortitude to really put the boot in when faced with mass strike action and protests, the EU Commission intends using the Growth and Statiblity Pact to reinforce the “slash and burn” agenda of Member State governments.
We can anticipate that any such demands from the Commissioner would be faithfully accepted by the Taoiseach given the praise he has heaped upon the government of Prime Minister Zapatero for the Spanish government’s recently announced austerity measures which is but the latest example of working people being made pay for the crisis in capitalism.
Active opposition must instead come from workers organisations across Europe. To that end, myself and fellow Left MEPs have initiated a call for a week of Europe wide opposition from 21 to 26 June in the form of protest and solidarity actions against the austerity measures being carried out by governments, and pushed by the EU Commission.
CHECK OUT OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:
- Press Release: Joe Higgins walks out over Rehn’s insistence on the confidentiality of discussion
- Report from GUE/NGL Meeting – European Days of Solidarity and Protest
- Why the Euroepan Transport Commissioner should be dismissed
- EU Commission’s debt proposals confirm argument of anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigners
- Autumn period must be the beginning of fightback against continued and savage austerity
