Brussels, 09/01/2014
New figures show that Europe still faces a massive employment crisis, with an estimated 26,533 million citizens out of work, an increase from the previous year. Unemployment now stands at 12.1% in the euro area.
Despite these statistics, some European leaders continue to push for business as usual policies.
Speaking at the official opening of the Greek presidency of the European Union in Athens, European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, insisted that the economy has turned the corner. Europe is “emerging from recession”, he said.
But this is no time to claim victory. For the ETUC success can only be declared when unemployment shows substantial signs of recovery, when we have secured quality jobs and lowered inequality and poverty.
However, the Greek people continue to face devastation at the hands of harsh austerity policies imposed by the troika. Greece is one of 14 European countries that has seen an increase in unemployment since 2012. Currently around 27% of the population are out of work. Alarmingly, 54.8% of the nation’s youth is unemployed.
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“The latest unemployment figures show that Europe needs a new path to find its way out of the crisis,”} said ETUC Secretary General Bernadette Ségol. {“In spite of the optimism of the commission, countries like Greece continue to find themselves devastated by harsh austerity policies leading to mass unemployment and social corrosion.”
“Instead of sticking with failed policies, European leaders need to fight for a new direction, a plan based on investments in sustainable growth and quality jobs. If not, we will continue to see unemployment rise. Social Europe must not be destroyed.”
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