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 almost 40 countries.

Belgians, Italians, French, Spanish, marched side by side through the streets of Brussels, behind the colors of their unions, red, blue or green.

“What is on the (EU) table today is an austerity cure and we don’t want it anymore,” Marie-Hélène Sca, secretary general of the Belgian CSC (Christian trade unions) confederation, told AFP.

Trade unions express fears about the return of the rules of the European Stability and Growth Pact expected on January 1, which they say could “choke” public spending, especially in heavily indebted countries. The flagship limits, set at 3% and 60% of GDP for the budget deficit and debt respectively, will be put back into place.

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This Pact was deactivated in early 2020 to avoid a collapse of economic activity that had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and following the war in Ukraine. The 27 EU member states are currently discussing a reform of the Pact, with rules that could be tailored to each state’s particular situation.

According to Ska, Belgium, one of the most indebted countries in the EU, may need to make “an additional €28 billion in savings” over the next seven years.

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“And at this moment when we need more than ever significant investments in the public sectors, in the ecological transition.” “We are asking for flexible criteria that take into account carbon neutrality to be achieved in 2050,” added the trade unionist.

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

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