Urging 'New Path Forward,' Tens of Thousands Demand End to EU Austerity

We need investment, not austerity. It’s time for a new path forward.

That was the message brought by tens of thousands of people from across Europe who converged in Brussels on Friday in a European Trade Union Confederation-organized protest against EU-supported austerity policies.

“Our message is simple, and one which EU leaders do not want to hear – that their policies for dealing with the financial crisis are not enough, and have caused a mounting social and economic crisis,” stated Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “Our message is that austerity is not working.

Demonstrators marched through the streets carrying placards reading, “We demand quality jobs and solidarity,” “Another Europe is possible,” “Down with austerity,” and “Invest to get out of the crisis.”

“People even came from as far away as Portugal, Bulgaria and Cyprus to send a sobering message to EU leaders,” stated Ségol. “People have had enough of austerity. They want a concerted effort to tackle unemployment, poverty and inequality.”

Adding her support was Jean Lambert, Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London, who stated, “We are seeing social provisions cut just when they need are needed most,” and urged other EU politicians to listen to the protest’s anti-austerity message.