Time for a European Spring

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***LATEST INFORMATION ON #OCCUPYTROIKA ACTION AT DG ECFIN AND ARRESTS***

More than 30 activists from across Europe have been arrested in the Belgian capital after an occupation of the headquarters of Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN). Rehn is known as an ardent champion of austerity across Europe, undermining democracy.

The occupation was part of two days of action across Europe organised by For a European Spring against austerity, to coincide with the EU Spring Summit in Brussels on the 14^th and 15^th March.

Pascoe Sabido, a coordinating member of For a European Spring, said “We did exactly what the police asked of us, and all 150 of us agreed to leave the building as they promised nothing would happen. Instead, we were kettled and treated like criminals. It's the Troika the police should be arresting, not us.”

The circumstances around the arrests were also very irregular, with the police arbitrarily arresting people to meet a pre-set quota. Some of those arrested had not even been inside the ECFIN building but had stayed outside protesting. Those arrested had their photos and fingerprints taken before being released, which is not allowed to happen if the arrest is administrative rather than judicial. For a European Spring is looking into the legality of the police actions.

“I was peacefully protesting outside a building that's causing violence across Europe through the austerity policies it's unleashing, but it looks like protesting Europe's undemocratic austerity drive is is no longer deemed legal. After banning our anti-austerity demonstration, today really shows that, here in Brussels, the right to assembly and freedom of expression are in grave danger.” said Corrina Genschel, a coordinating member of For a European Spring and in Brussels with Blockupy Frankfurt.

Contact: Pascoe Sabido +32 (0) 4 86 85 74 16 (Bxl); 0032486033931

Notes for editor

• For a European Spring is a coalition of movements from 13 European countries, denouncing the EU push for austerity, including cuts in social expenditure, radical wage cuts, attacks on social and labour rights, while demanding the abolition of all austerity treaties and legislation and genuine democracy.

• DG ECFIN is the Commission’s department fulfilling most of the work of the Troika, providing staff to the various task forces that travel to “indebted” European countries to impose austerity policies regardless of public interest or opinion.

• European Commissioner Olli Rehn has publicly stated that the minimum wage in Greece of €511 gross salary per month – already below the poverty line – is too much and need to be cut further. He has also threatened to fine the Belgian state – which would fall on its tax-payers – if it does not further cut its health, education and unemployment budgets.

• For more information see www.foraeuropeanspring.org

Thursday 14 March, 15:20 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

#OCCUPYTHETROIKA – DG ECFIN OCCUPIED

Activists from across Europe have occupied DG ECFIN (Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs), the headquarters of European Commissioner Olli Rehn, in protest at its leading role in imposing austerity.

The action has been coordinated by For a European Spring – a coalition of movements from 13 countries – as part of a continent-wide protest against the European Summit and its austerity agenda, beginning today in Brussels.

Michel Vanderopoulos from the coordinating group in Brussels said, “From buildings such as the one we occupy today, the Troika is imposing austerity policies that leave millions of people without proper healthcare, deprive millions more citizens of their livelihoods and destroy hard fought-for historical social rights.”

The coalition ‘For a European Spring’ was formed to denounce the EU push for austerity, including cuts in social expenditure, radical wage cuts, attacks on social and labour rights, while demanding the abolition of all austerity treaties and legislation that form part of what President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso has called “a silent revolution”. This action and others are to taking place under the slogan “Our democracy against their austerity”.

Contact number: 0032 (0) 486 033 931

Notes to the editor

-    DG ECFIN is the Commission’s department fulfilling most of the work of the Troika, providing staff to the various task forces that travel to “indebted” European countries to impose austerity policies regardless of public interest or opinion.

-    European Commissioner Olli Rehn has publicly stated that the minimum wage in Greece of €511 gross salary per month – already below the poverty line – is too much and need to be cut further. He has also threatened to fine the Belgian state – which would fall on its tax-payers – if it does not further cut its health, education and unemployment budgets.

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Time for a European Spring

People across Europe come together in Brussels and other European capitals this week to reject EU austerity policies and their erosion of democracy. The police have hampered efforts in Brussels by banning the organised march and denying people the right to free assembly.

When the EU Summit takes place in Brussels on the 14^th of March it will be in the midst of protests all over Europe and in the Belgian capital itself. “For a European Spring” – a coalition of movements from 13 countries – is calling for actions to denounce the EU approach to the eurocrisis.

A European demonstration was due to take place through the streets of Brussels, but the police have denied authorization - in effect banning it - on the grounds of “lack of resources”.

“This is outrageous. We have a right to assembly and to express our opposition to the EU's attacks on our jobs and the services we rely on. We're currently exploring legal action, as the decision represents a blatant show of disregard to the rights of ordinary Europeans,” said Pascoe Sabido (Corporate Europe Observatory), from the coordinating group in Brussels.

What has happened in Brussels mirrors events across Europe, where critical voices speaking out against austerity are being marginalised and repressed. For this reason, despite the police ban, the coalition will still provide a platform to make those voices heard here in Brussels, where European leaders are discussing how to deepen austerity while further eroding democracy and ignoring popular opposition.

On March 13^th, a guided “austerity tour” will weave around the EU quarter, taking in the European institutions, financial and industrial lobbies. On 14^th March, movements from across Europe will stand side by side with Belgian workers already struggling against the reality of Europe's austerity policies. Together they will march on Brussels as part of the trade union demonstration against austerity, forming a critical international bloc. At 3 pm an Action Assembly will be held on the fringe of the ETUC rally in Parc Cinquantenaire.

The coalition ‘For a European Spring’ is set up to denounce the EU push for austerity, including cuts in social expenditure, radical wage cuts, attacks on social rights - including labour rights – and other aspects of what the President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso has called “a silent revolution”. The actions, marches and events are to take place under the slogan “Our democracy against their austerity”.

Sol Trumbo Vila from the coordinating group of “For a European Spring” said: “For three years now, the EU has responded to the crisis with attacks on standards of living and with austerity policies that are dismantling the welfare state across Europe. As unemployment and misery spreads across the continent and support for austerity vanishes, resistance is increasing and will continue to do so in the months and years to come.”

“While the European Union is severely undermining the welfare of its citizens, the member states have supported ailing financial corporations with a staggering EUR €1,6 trillion since 2008. That is a disgrace and it is completely unacceptable. Why should we pay the price for the excesses of the financial sector?” said Myriam Bourgy (CADTM), from the coordinating group in Liege.

The actions developed under this umbrella have now taken form.  On Wednesday the 13th of March there will be events, marches or actions in Austria, Belgium (Brussels), Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.  Already the people of Europe are coordinating their fights against the same enemy, sharing and learning from each other, building a European movement from below that can provide people-focused, democratic alternatives to austerity.

Contacts

Pascoe Sabido, [email protected], tlph. 0032 (0) 486 85 74 16

Sol Trumbo Vila, [email protected], tlph. 0031 (0) 610172065

Myriam Bourgy, [email protected], tlph. 0032 (0) 498 35 36 66

Press Phone: 0032486033931 

Notes to the editor:

• For more information on activities on 13^th and 14^th March, see www.foraeuropeanspring.org, where events from across Europe are listed.
• Already confirmed as Joining the demonstration on the 14^th will be participants from Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark and Germany from social movements of all kinds, including ATTAC-groups, indignados (15M), environmental groups, debt groups, left wing parties (including politicians), trade unions and many others.
• The platform of the initiative was agreed on in December, and came out of Firenze 10+10  with the following slogans: Abolish all EU-austerity treaties and legislation!; For an ecological Transition!; Disarm Financial Markets!; Debt: Don’t owe, don’t pay!; Fire the Troika, not the people!”

Signatories to the call so far include: Action from Ireland (AFRI) , Alternative Trade Mandate, ATTAC-Austria, ATTAC-Germany, ATTAC-Poland, ATTAC-Spain, ATTAC-Hungary, ATTAC-Greece, Afrika Kontakt (Denmark), CADTM Europe, Collectif Artiviste, Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers (NL), Die Linke.Bruxelles, Ecologistas en Acción (Spain), FairFin (Belgium), Fairwatch (Italy), RESPECT Network in Europe (Amsterdam), Reforma del Sistema Electoral 15M, ReINFORM group (NL), European Alternatives, Hungarian Social Forum, Internationale Socialisten (NL), Center for Encounter and Active Non-Violence (Germany), Debt Justice Action Ireland, Vredesactie (Belgium), Precarious United (Belgium), 15M Amsterdam, 15M Bruxelles, Internationale Sozialistische Linke, Pacto Ciudadano Barcelona, Blockupy Frankfurt, PRC (Italy), Corporate Europe Observatory, Social Network Unionism (NL), transform! Europe, Transform Italy, Transnational Institute, Comités contre l'Austerité en Europe (Belgium), Jeuneusse Ouvrière Chrétiene Bruxelles (Belgium), Initiative de Solidarité à la Grèce – Bruxelles, Partito dei Comunisti Italiani Europe, TRUSTED Migrant (NL), Transnational MDW (NL), Jeunesse Syndicales FGTB (BE), Brussels popular teams, Agir pou la Paix (Belgium), Action pour la paix (Belgium), Arbeitskreis für kritische Europaforschung (AKE), verdi Landesfrauenrat, 15M Asamblea Popular Moncloa (District), Madrid Working group politica internacional 15M, Madrid Comisión Comunicación Asamblea Moncloa (15M Madrid), Economía Sol - 15M (Spain), Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire Jeunes anticapitalistes (JAC), Critical Political EconomyLa Asamblea Popular de Moratalaz 15M (Spain), Asamblea San Blas Canillejas (Spain), Grupo de Trabajo Transversal RE-ACCIÓN CIUDADANA (Spain)

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People across Europe come together to reject EU austerity policies in Brussels and other European capitals next week

When the EU Summit takes place in Brussels on the 14th of March it will be in the midst of protests all over Europe and in the Belgian capital itself. “For a European Spring” – a coalition of movements from 13 countries – is calling for actions to denounce the EU approach to the eurocrisis.

Under the slogan “Our democracy against their austerity!” the coalition will denounce the EU push for austerity, including cuts in social expenditure, radical wage cuts, attacks on social rights - including labour rights - and other aspects of what the President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso has called “a silent revolution”.

Sol Trumbo Vila from the coordinating group of “For a European Spring” said: “For three years now, the EU has responded to the crisis with attacks on standards of living and with austerity policies that are decimating the welfare state across Europe. As unemployment and misery spreads across the continent and support for austerity vanishes, resistance is already increasing and will continue to do so in the years to come.”

“While the European Union is severely undermining the welfare of its citizens, the member states have supported ailing financial corporations with a staggering EUR €1,6 trillion since 2008. That is a disgrace. Why should we pay the price for the excesses of the financial sector?” said Pierre Gottiniaux (CADTM) from the coordinating group in Brussels.

So far, most protests against EU policies have taken place in Southern Europe. According to the coalition For a European Spring, this will have to change.

“People in Southern Europe are currently paying the highest price for the EU's austerity policies, but their impact is by no means limited to the South. The EU policies represent an attack on people's welfare and democracy in the North as well. To stop the destructive impact in both halves of Europe we need to act, and act together,” Sol Trumbo Vila.

The actions developed under this umbrella are now taking their form. On Wednesday the 13th of March there will be events, marches or actions in Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium (Brussels), Spain and Austria. More actions are organised and will be announced in the coming days.

On Thursday the 14thof March, people from across Europe and Belgium will gather in Brussels for a march, a 'noise demo' with pots and pans, at 12 PM in Brussels under the slogan “Our democracy against their austerity”.

Contacts

• Sol Trumbo Vila, [email protected], tlph. 0031 610172065

• Pierre Gottiniaux, [email protected] tlph. 0032 (0) 498 35 36 66

Notes to the editor:

• For more information on activities on 13th March, see www.foraeuropeanspring.org, where events from across Europe are listed.

• For more information on the march on 14th in Brussels, see www.foraeuropeanspring.org.

  • The march will begin close to the National Bank and end close to the Parque Cinquantenaire where the trade unions will have a rally against austerity. Belgian trade union confederations will provide cover for their members for the day.

  • Already confirmed as Joining the demonstration on the 14th will be participants from Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark and Germany from social movements of all kinds, including ATTAC-groups, indignados (15M), environmental groups, debt groups, left wing parties (including politicians), trade unions and many others.

  • The platform of the initiative was agreed on in December, and came out of Firenze 10+10 with the following slogans: Abolish all EU-austerity treaties and legislation!; For an ecological Transition!; Disarm Financial Markets!; Debt: Don’t owe, don’t pay!; Fire the Troika, not the people!”

Signatories to the call so far include

Action from Ireland (AFRI) , Alternative Trade Mandate, ATTAC-Austria, ATTAC-Germany, ATTAC-Poland, ATTAC-Spain, ATTAC-Hungary, ATTAC-Greece, Afrika Kontakt (Denmark), CADTM Europe, Collectif Artiviste, Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers (NL), Die Linke.Bruxelles, Ecologistas en Acción (Spain), FairFin (Belgium), Fairwatch (Italy), RESPECT Network in Europe (Amsterdam), Reforma del Sistema Electoral 15M, ReINFORM group (NL), European Alternatives, Hungarian Social Forum, Internationale Socialisten (NL), Center for Encounter and Active Non-Violence (Germany), Debt Justice Action Ireland, Vredesactie (Belgium), Precarious United (Belgium), 15M Amsterdam, 15M Bruxelles, Internationale Sozialistische Linke, Pacto Ciudadano Barcelona, Blockupy Frankfurt, PRC (Italy), Corporate Europe Observatory, Social Network Unionism (NL), transform! Europe, Transform Italy, Transnational Institute, Comités contre l'Austerité en Europe (Belgium), Jeuneusse Ouvrière Chrétiene Bruxelles (Belgium), Initiative de Solidarité à la Grèce – Bruxelles, Partito dei Comunisti Italiani Europe, TRUSTED Migrant (NL), Transnational MDW (NL), Jeunesse Syndicales FGTB (BE), Brussels popular teams, Agir pou la Paix (Belgium), Action pour la paix (Belgium), Arbeitskreis für kritische Europaforschung (AKE), verdi Landesfrauenrat, 15M Asamblea Popular Moncloa (District), Madrid Working group politica internacional 15M, Madrid Comisión Comunicación Asamblea Moncloa (15M Madrid), Economía Sol - 15M (Spain), Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire Jeunes anticapitalistes (JAC), Critical Political EconomyLa Asamblea Popular de Moratalaz 15M (Spain), Asamblea San Blas Canillejas (Spain), Grupo de Trabajo Transversal RE-ACCIÓN CIUDADANA (Spain)