Resisting Financial Dictatorship - Reclaiming Democracy and Social Rights!

'The European Commission and the Council use the shock of the "sovereign debt crisis" to redraw the European economy, following a radical monetarist and neo-liberal vision, promoted by the ECB', declared around 30 organisations at the Second Joint Social Conference in Brussels on 29 and 30 March 2012.

It its final declaration, the trade unions and social movements, participating in the event, list a whole range of measures for an alternative policy course including enhanced investment in social rights and public services, a questioning of the principle of debt repayment, tax justice, a questioning of the independence of the ECB, protection of the right to collective bargaining and collective action without state interference and the definition of an alternative mandate for the EU's external trade policy.

To put these alternative proposals into practice, it will be crucial that trade unions and social movements from across the various EU member states overcome their differences and put into practice joint actions at the national and European level alike.