Andrea Germanos<\/strong> We need investment, not austerity. It’s time for a new path forward.<\/p>\n That was the message brought by tens of thousands of people from across Europe who converged in Brussels on Friday in a European Trade Union Confederation-organized protest against EU-supported austerity policies.<\/p>\n “Our message is simple, and one which EU leaders do not want to hear \u2014 that their policies for dealing with the financial crisis are not enough, and have caused a mounting social and economic crisis,” stated Bernadette S\u00c3\u00a9gol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “Our message is that austerity is not working.<\/p>\n Demonstrators marched through the streets carrying placards reading, “We demand quality jobs and solidarity,” “Another Europe is possible,” “Down with austerity,” and “Invest to get out of the crisis.”<\/p>\n “People even came from as far away as Portugal, Bulgaria and Cyprus to send a sobering message to EU leaders,” stated S\u00c3\u00a9gol. “People have had enough of austerity. They want a concerted effort to tackle unemployment, poverty and inequality.”<\/p>\n Adding her support was Jean Lambert, Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London, who stated, “We are seeing social provisions cut just when they need are needed most,” and urged other EU politicians to listen to the protest’s anti-austerity message.<\/p>\n Police\u00a0used tear gas and water cannons<\/a>\u00a0on the largely peaceful protest. A small group of protesters reportedly\u00a0clashed<\/a>\u00a0with police, throwing stones and barricades.<\/p>\n
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