Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Brussels to the European Union buildings in union jackets bright red, green and blue work, aiming to strengthen the impact of Spain's first nationwide strike in eight years.
Strikes and protests were also taking place on Wednesday in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Slovenia and Lithuania, all aimed at slashing budgets, taxes, hiking, cutting austerity plans pension-European governments have launched to try to control your debt.
The march in Brussels took place as the European Commission proposes new sanctions to punish member states that have made deficit, mainly to finance social programs in a time of high unemployment. The proposal, backed by Germany, is running into strong opposition from France, which wants politicians to decide on penalties, no rigid rules alone.
"It's a strange moment for the European Commission to propose a system of punishment," said John Monks, secretary general of the European Trade Union Confederation of Associated Press Television News. "How is that going to improve the situation? Going to make things worse."
Unions fear that employees will become the biggest victims of an economic crisis triggered by the bankers and traders, many of whom were rescued by massive government intervention.
"It's unfair that people have to pay low wages to sustain the country. Must be of the banks," said the Belgian Foncis Evelain demonstrator.
Several governments, who are already dangerously high debt levels, were pushed to the brink of financial collapse and have been obliged to impose punishing cuts to wages, pensions and jobs - Actions to be performed by workers tens of thousands in recent months.
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