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European Trade Union Federations reject Commission’s economic strategy and call upon European Council to follow the ETUC’s proposal for a European investment plan

On 13 November, the European Commission published the Annual Growth Survey (AGS) 2014 which proposes priorities for EU economic policy in 2014. On 19 and 20, December EU heads of state and government will convene in the European Council to discuss the document with a view to approving the Commission’s proposals.

The European Trade Union Federations EFBWW, EFFAT, ETUCE, EPSU, ETF, IndustriAll Europe, and UNI Europa, jointly representing more than 30 million workers in the EU, urge the European Council not to follow the strategy the Commission sets out in the AGS. In the face of almost 27 million unemployed men and women in Europe, the EU cannot afford another year of stagnation. Despite this, the Commission intends to stick to the very policies that have prolonged and aggravated the crisis. Austerity, structural reform, liberalisation, and deregulation fail to address the Union’s most pressing problems and lack the support of citizens.

The European Union needs to embark on a path of robust, job-rich recovery. Given the severity of the crisis, only a long-term strategy of substantial investment will be able to achieve this. The European Trade Union Confederation’s “Plan for Investment, Sustainable Growth and Quality Jobs” develops a feasible model for such an urgently needed change of course in EU economic policy. The European Trade Union Federations call upon the European Council to implement action along these lines without further delay.

The EU must renew its commitment to the improvement of working and living conditions. Inaction risks loosing citizen’s support for the European project which will cost particularly dearly in next year’s European elections.

Please see the related files section to read the joint ETUF statement on the Annual Growth Survey 2014.