The European Union is dealing with the inmost economic crisis in its history, and the decision European leaders will take at the virtual European Council conference on Friday will have really real repercussions for the lives of millions of people and the future of Europe itself, which are deeply linked.

European leaders have a historical option on Friday when they dial-in to talk about how to stop a health crisis becoming a social and financial one: will they find out the lessons of 2008 and pick a recovery based upon uniformity and sustainability, or choose once again for austerity and short-term self-preservation that runs the risk of long-lasting division?

Public rely on the EU fell in every member state following the financial crisis, with remarkable decreases in the countries hardest struck by the austerity routine that expense tasks, cut incomes and maimed health care and public services.

We have still not totally recuperated from that crisis and the results of this brand-new shock are beginning to show.

In the first quarter of this year, the GDP of the EU saw its sharpest decline in 30 years, while the number of people in work went into reverse for the first time given that2013

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60 million layoffs

Nearly 60 million employees have actually been laid off or put in short-term joblessness and millions of organisations, significantly SMEs, are at threat of insolvency. The number of of these business and tasks are lost completely depends upon the political action to the crisis.

That’s why leaders need to support the European Commission’s proposition for a EUR750 bn recovery fund, 2 thirds of which will appropriately be available in the kind of grants instead of loans in order not to create extra unsustainable public financial obligation, and a brand-new EU budget big enough to satisfy the difficulty ahead.

If they do, millions of tasks will be conserved and brand-new quality tasks will be developed, and public financial investment will increase by a 3rd– a considerable action in the best instructions.

This will need to go together with enormous assistance for internal financial need and efficiency, which can be attained just through wage boosts worked out by companies and unions.

Like 2008, there are strings connected to themoney

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However this time the proposed conditions can not be financial, they need to be financial investment in the shift to a green and digital economy instead of privatisations or the damage of cumulative bargaining.

These conditions are a start, however financial investment is likewise required to deal with youth work and assistance public services, health care and education and training.

No bail-outs for tax avoiders

No EU money must go to organisations that decline to work out incomes and working conditions with trade unions or that starve public services of financing through tax avoidance and evasion. Companies that get public money need to offer good tasks, and work towards environment objectives in a socially reasonable method.

The recovery strategy has the possible to lastly bring back the rely on Europe that residents lost throughout the last crisis by making a real distinction to the lives of working people when they need it most.

If exists just on paper and does not reach employees and business in time to make a distinction,

However not. Employees will not thank their national leaders for holding-up in unlimited conversations a strategy that might conserve their tasks.

The strategy has the assistance of the bulk of member states and effective leaders in French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

We interest the challengers of the strategy to take their obligation and not to promote severe conditions which would see the countries struck hardest by the coronavirus suffer more austerity.

Nobody nation triggered this pandemic, and none must be delegated pay by themselves for its repercussions. Simply as the infection has actually not appreciated borders, neither will the economic crisis. In a European single market, a crisis in one part of Europe will damage the economy in the entire continent.

And undoubtedly another extended financial and social crisis will end up being a political crisis for the EU, jeopardizing European cohesion, democracy, and the future of the Europeanproject

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The recovery strategy is the just method to ensure Europe emerges fairer, greener and unified from these challenging times.

Leaders need to do the best thing to construct an European Union that secures its organisations, residents and employees.

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