Dear John,
thanks for sharing. The election in Greece might indeed open a (small) chance to reconsider austerity policies. However this has to be discussed as a joint European task. In that sense it is not helpful (as is done often in the German discourse) to blame the "irresponsible" deficit countries for the malaise, but German bashing (increasingly popular among the austerity critics) might also rather reinforce old prejudices then leading towards solutions.
Tried to make the case to think about new constructive engagement in Social Europe
http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/02/new-start-greece-opportunity-germany/
The attached declaration signed by all relevant German trade union leaders and a considerable number of researchers parliamentarians and activists might also be of interests.
http://wp.europa-neu-begruenden.de/griechenland-chance-fuer-europa/greece-after-the-election-not-a-threat-but-an-opportunity-for-europe/
Best regards,
Frank Hoffer
ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities
International Labour Organization
thanks for sharing. The election in Greece might indeed open a (small) chance to reconsider austerity policies. However this has to be discussed as a joint European task. In that sense it is not helpful (as is done often in the German discourse) to blame the "irresponsible" deficit countries for the malaise, but German bashing (increasingly popular among the austerity critics) might also rather reinforce old prejudices then leading towards solutions.
Tried to make the case to think about new constructive engagement in Social Europe
http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/02/new-start-greece-opportunity-germany/
The attached declaration signed by all relevant German trade union leaders and a considerable number of researchers parliamentarians and activists might also be of interests.
http://wp.europa-neu-begruenden.de/griechenland-chance-fuer-europa/greece-after-the-election-not-a-threat-but-an-opportunity-for-europe/
Best regards,
Frank Hoffer
ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities
International Labour Organization
