Irish Presidency programme falls far short of the mark
Date
16 Jan 2013
Sections
EU Priorities 2020
Social Europe & Jobs
In response to a statement from Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the European Parliament this morning, GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer said: "The Irish Presidency's priorities are stability, jobs and growth but nowhere does its programme make mention of fighting social exclusion. I am afraid the florid language used does not reflect the suffering across the EU."
Addressing the Irish Prime Minister, she continued: "You talk of a Youth Guarantee, but where is the money? We don't want an army of cheap labour. We need sustainable jobs for young people that are socially and legally guaranteed through a minimum wage and education and training."
"Let me be blunt, my group does not agree with proposals for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and further cuts to structural and cohesion funds will inevitably lead to a widening of the north-south divide in Europe," she added. "On your watch the Europe of solidarity is turning into a Europe of austerity."
GUE/NGL MEP Martina Anderson also commented: "The Presidency programme contains nothing progressive, no investment package, no concrete action to address unemployment and nothing for those participating in one of the biggest forced migrations in centuries."
"There is no stability and there are no jobs in Ireland or across Europe," warned GUE/NGL MEP Paul Murphy. "Coordination of deeper austerity across Europe will only make the situation worse. Working people across Europe are paying for the bondholders. Is it not time to say we cannot pay this debt, we should not pay this debt and we will not pay this debt?"
GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group