Protests against government economic policies are taking place in 23 EU countries

Europe today is witnessing some of the largest protests in recent memory. At the call of trade unions and other public organizations, citizens of 23 EU countries took to the streets and began strikes, protesting against the economic policies of the EU leadership, including measures to sharply reduce public spending.

Today, most of Europe is gripped by large-scale protests against the economic policies of the EU leadership. Since early morning in 23 EU countries, tens of thousands of people have expressed their disagreement with cuts in public spending and rising unemployment, following the call of trade unions. Participants in the “Day of Action and Solidarity” call on the authorities to pay attention to growing public discontent and abandon harsh economic measures.

The action was initiated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “Austerity will lead nowhere and must end,” the confederation said in a statement. Major strikes have already begun in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. Performances will also take place in countries such as Germany, Belgium, France and the UK. In total, about 40 public organizations in Europe and several tens of thousands of people will take part in the action, according to the BBC.

In a number of countries, whose residents are protesting against austerity policies, many institutions are not working today, and transport has been disrupted. In Spain, 600 flights were canceled, of which 250 were international, in Portugal - more than 160 flights. Thalys, which provides high-speed rail services between Belgium and Germany, has canceled all trains for today, and normal rail services between France and the Netherlands have also been disrupted.

One of the largest protests is currently taking place in Spain. Its participants, who took to the streets at midnight local time, oppose cuts in wages and pensions, as well as tax increases. Within a few hours of the start of the strike, 15 people were injured in clashes with the police, and 32 were arrested. Most of the people taking part in the performances work in the metallurgical, chemical and automotive industries. As a result of today's action in Spain, production has stopped at such large factories as Nissan, Opel and Seat in Catalonia, Volkswagen in Navarre, Ford Motor in Valencia. According to the Madrid authorities, the city's metro is operating with interruptions, public transport is experiencing disruptions, as well as air traffic in most major cities.

This is the third strike in Greece in the last two months. Dissatisfaction with the government, which is trying to reduce the budget deficit through austerity policies, is constantly growing. Experts believe that the state budget for 2013, adopted on Monday, which includes spending cuts of 9.4 billion euros, has only made the situation worse.

Marina Kruglikova

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