Social Cohesion: Fernández Veiguela demands stronger solidarity in Europe

“The trade unions in Europe play an important role in the economic and financial crisis. They are the guarantee for social equity and peace”, proclaimed CESI vice President Domingo Fernández Veiguela on 10th November in Madrid. The traces of the last few years of crisis have left their mark on the European societies, which is shown above all by the new study on social cohesion launched by the European Commission. “We must take special care to stop the societies of the European Union from drifting apart” says the CESI vice President. Solidarity in Europe has been one of the fundamentals for the economic prosperity of the previous decades.

“We must remember the European strengths,” says Fernández Veiguela. Above all, the difference between northern and southern Europe is extremely alarming. “Europe’s success has been based on an ever closer co-operation. If people in the southern countries see their situation as markedly worse than those in the northern countries, this could cause severe tension between them,” the CESI vice President warns. In order to avoid a widening gap between the European countries, more efforts to stabilize the southern economies and not only their budgets are required. “We need kind of a new Marshall plan for Europe.”

The European trade unions will be pivotal in this. “We as trade unions organise an important part of civil society”, says Fernández Veiguela. It is completely unacceptable that individual European governments cease the dialogue with trade unions as they have in Hungary. “The European governments must defend the principle values in Europe vis-á-vis Hungary and every other country which disregards the rights of its workers”. Fernández Veiguela demands that Europeans stand side-by-side on this.
Background information: On 17th October, the Eurobarometer survey was published regarding the social climate in the European Union, commissioned by the European Commission. The complete study can be found on the website of the Commission.