The Guardian reports on efforts of the European Union to promote austerity measures to reduce public finance deficits. It is one plank of a strategy to placate financial speculators.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/9105979
Another part of the European Union strategy is to combat industrial unrest and neuter resistance to cuts in public services and employment. Hence, the revival of a ‘social dialogue’ to incorporate unions into the economic plans of the corporate elites.
Laszlo Andor, the EU's employment commissioner, told the ETUC executive committee yesterday that "Europe's economy is under the stress of financial markets speculation, while national governments face excessive public deficits and must engage in austerity programmes. In all of this, I would like to highlight the importance of social dialogue and the commitment of the Commission to promote it further especially in times of crisis.”
Doubtless part of the social dialogue will be to promote greater labour market flexibility – a long term aim of right led governments in the EU. The European Commission has stated publicly that "European labour markets will be changed profoundly by the crisis".
http://www.euractiv.com/en/socialeurope/labour-market-reforms/article-140843
