GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky threw his support behind today's European Day of Action saying "the GUE/NGL group supports trade unions from all over Europe who are mobilising workers in different countries to protest against the austerity measures being forced on the people."

With a view to the upcoming EU Summit,  President Bisky said: "What we expect from EU Heads of State and government is concrete and decisive action to solve the crisis. Speculative activities in the markets must be prevented. A financial transaction tax must finally be implemented. The destructive cycle of wage cuts, erosion of social security systems and attacks on collective agreements and workers' rights must end. Investment, growth, income and internal demand must be strengthened - in Greece and elsewhere."

Last week, the GUE/NGL Group sent a delegation of MEPs to Greece to show its solidarity with the Greek people fighting austerity measures imposed by Troika. The group met with civil society organizations working for the defence of social and workers' rights including representatives from the social houses body that provides rent and mortgage relief to 120,000 families.

"Greece is being driven deeper into crisis today by misleading so-called "reforms". This might be the case for other countries tomorrow. We have to stop this dangerous race that can only end up in economic and social collapse," concluded Lothar Bisky.

The President will meet the Secretary-General of ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), Bernadette Ségol, this afternoon to discuss recent developments in labour market policies.

GUE/NGL press contacts:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu 

Sonja Giese  +32 486 94 50 21

sonja.giese@europarl.europa.eu

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu