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Submitted by ctv_en_6 on Wed, 09/29/2010 - 17:50
Thousands of people from across the EU are expected to march in Brussels on September 29 to protest against sweeping austerity measures by many national governments.

The European Trade Union Confederation says its protest could be one of the biggest in Belgium's capital for years.

The union says EU workers could become the biggest victims of a financial crisis set off by bankers and traders.

A general strike has begun in Spain and protests are planned in Greece, Poland, Italy, Latvia, Ireland and Serbia.

Many governments across the 27-member bloc have been forced to impose punishing cuts in wages, pensions and employment to deal with spiralling debts.

In Greece and the Republic of Ireland, unemployment figures are at their highest level in 10 years, while Spain's unemployment has doubled in just three years.

In Britain, the government is planning to slash spending by up to 25%, while France has seen angry protests against a planned increase in the minimum retirement age.

Labour unions in Spain started a general strike by marching through the capital, Madrid, in an effort to shut down the city.

Workers in many EU countries are frustrated that they are paying for the mistakes of the banks and the financial sector.

The recovery is still fragile. In some countries it has not even begun, and many fear the cuts could provoke further trouble.

He adds that in short, it is a debate on austerity versus stimulus, cuts or spending, and the opinions are deeply and bitterly divided.

VOVNews/BBC

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