News

UNI Europa welcomes the EU Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted Report on the employment and social consequences of the Troika operations in Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, and Portugal.

The Report emphasises the dire consequences of the Troika’s operations in terms of social cohesion in the programme countries and in terms of social protection of vulnerable groups.

The Report reiterates, like UNI Europa’s Troika Watch page, that Troika measures resulted in massive increases in unemployment, the dismantlement of social spending and social protection systems, accrued poverty and inequality, and the massive emigration of young and talented people.

The Report acknowledges that the Troika did not consult social partners nor the International Labour Organisation in the implementation of the bailout programmes. The Report regrets the Troika’s unacceptable attacks on wages and wage bargaining systems in the concerned countries, which are outside of the EU’s competence.

UNI Europa welcomes the call for the EU Commission to further assess and analyse the consequences of the Troika’s policies on employment and social protection as well as its compatibility with the European legal order. The Report also calls for mending measures addressing job losses, tackling poverty and re-establishing circumvented rights to social security, education and training and collective bargaining.

Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary said: “This EMPL report highlights the essence of the European austerity problem. The EU Commission, with the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have failed to promote the EU’s fundamental principles and objectives of social progress. Austerity policy has failed, the Troika must face up to its key responsibilities and act accordingly. Workers in the Troika countries do not care about the operational details of the Troika mishandling. Careful monitoring of the plenary vote on this Report will determine whether European workers still trust in the European project to bring about recovery and divert from the damaging route chosen thus far.”