Europa

Nieuwe Euromarsen vanuit Spanje naar Brussel en een grote Europese demonstratie op 17 october in Brussel. Voor een democratisch en solidair Europa. (Bouw Europa opnieuw op)

MARCH TO BRUSSELS – October 2015

FOR A DEMOCRATIC AND SOLIDARY EUROPE

The economic crisis in Europe has accelerated the brutal imposition of the neoliberal order

based on totalitarianism of the financial power, the primacy of the money over the popular

sovereignty, the privatization of public services and the transformation of the citizens into

customers. In this context, the pressures of the TROIKA to impose its austerity policies is

trying to break the democratic will of the Greeks and to deter similar dynamics in other

countries…

The path opened by Greece is not only for the Greeks, but for all European citizens who

want to build a new Europe based on democratic principles, justice and social cohesion. If

we do not raise a European movement now, Greece can be massacred and this democratic

illusion growing with the social movements, projecting from Spain expectations of political

change, will be under a process of black mailing and demoralization that can end in a

painful frustration. This is why, from the RAP (Network for Public Water) and ATTAC-Spain,

we proposed in the ALTER SUMMIT meeting of 4-5 March in Brussels, to launch a MARCH

for a DEMOCRATIC and SOLIDARY EUROPE. The aim was to promote a convergence of

powerful movements that have emerged across Europe in the crisis; movements in

defence of basic public services, such as water and sanitation, health and education, the

right to housing, decent pensions and care for dependents ... while confronting the Troika

"Austerity Policies“.

In Spain we have the experience of massive Marches. The Blue March, organized a decade

ago, reached Brussels with 14,000 people from Spain, to block EU funding of Spanish

Hydrological Plan, which included the privatization of an annual Billion cubic meters

through the Transfer of the Ebro. More recently the Marches for Dignity focused on Madrid

1,5 million people from all over the country.

By following these examples we try to promote a "snowball" strategy for involving citizens

along the two weeks of the Marches, between 1 and 17 October. These Euro-Marches will

reach Brussels on 15 October. On each route there will be enough to have between 50 and

100 activists, traveling by bus, which would be received and strengthened arriving to

different cities of the journey. In short, two weeks of events in major cities along the

different routes: starting from the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal - Spain), Greece, the Nordic

countries and Great Britain-Ireland, which converge with France, Germany and other

countries along different routes. Arriving to Brussels, on 15 and 16 is scheduled a set of

events to ultimately on October 17 (Saturday) have a big European Demonstration. For

this big event, will be organized planes and buses of all EU countries. The various

itineraries will touch every European Tax Heavens, with a carefully staging to denounce the

black money.

ALTER SUMMIT granted support for the initiative based on the consensus on four points:

• Oppose the "austerity" policies and privatization of public services TOÏKA

• Press the democratic decisions of the people and especially the Greek people

• Finish with the Fiscal Paradise in the EU

• Stop the secret negotiations of TTIP

These EURO-MARCHES should be organized on the basis of:

• Strict and clear principles of non-violence;

• The four points awarded to ALTER SUMMIT;

• A unitary spirit will allow to launch ideas and claims not contradictory with these four

points

The project was also presented to the Assembly of European Water Movement in Brussels

on March 24 and in Thessaloniki on 18-19 May, on the occasion of the celebration of the

anniversary of the referendum contra privatization of water.

In Madrid, 15 April, the initiative has received the active support of political parties

(PODEMOS, IU, EQUO (Greens)), trade unions (CCOO, CGT), "Tides" (White, Green, Blue,

Red), Environmentalist Movement (Ecologistas en Acción), NGO of Solidarity, Federation of

Neighborhood Associations, Marches 22M for the "Dignity" and the RAP (Network for Public

Water) and ATTAC-Spain, that convoked the meeting.

May 2 was held a European meeting in Athens, coordinated by ALTER SUMMIT. After

receiving the supports of Syriza, ATTAC-France, ATTAC Spain, CCOO, IU, PODEMOS, among

others, the proposal of the MARCHES for a DEMOCRATIC AND SOLIDARY EUROPE was

approved and incorporated in the common agenda for coming months. However, the dates

(August-September) have been revised. In contact with the Belgian trade unions it was

decided to arrive in Brussels on 15 October, just when it is expected that begins EU

Summit (15-16 October). ATTAC France, Germany, Greece and Spain have supplemented

this change with the celebration Friday, October 16 for a European Social Summit, among

other activities, to finish with a big demonstration in Brussels on 17 October.

May 23 formed the Promoter Committee of EURO-MARCHES in Spain to prepare the route

that will cross the Iberian Peninsula, coordinating cities and territories that commit. For

now, the route is already approved in Spain and proposed to the French and Belgian in

their territories.

On June 8, ALTER SUMMIT convened a new meeting in Brussels. He was granted a new

point to the four points under consensus, demanding effective public policies against

climate change, under the demands of social movements face the COB21. An interim

Coordination Group was formed, until June 27 in Athens, where an Organising Committee

should take responsibility. This Group was to propose possible routes for the different

MARCHES, to propose a text to launch the initiative and seek a short and shocking slogan.

And finally he had to propose a program for the last three days in Brussels (15, 16 and 17

October).

On the basis of these agreements from that meeting is clear, given that:

EURO-MARCHES will reach Brussels on October 15

This day, Belgian movements organize the symbolically encirclement of the EU Summit

16 October: European Social Summit, with different events

Saturday 17 Oct. (after arriving buses and aircrafts) European Demonstration.

Finally on July 14 a new meeting convened in Brussels agreed:

- Besides the four starting points of consensus, is added a point of consensus on climate

(COB21), another against racism and xenophobia and finally another against sexism…

- The slogan will be: Basta! Enough! Oxi! Changing that Europe (or "build another

Europe" …)

- The logo will be the stars of the European flag being part of a barbed wire, which breaks

under the pressure of the words "Basta! Enough! Oxi! "

- Different events are planned under the responsibility of different groups and movements:

The Euro-Marches are coordinated by the Spanish; encirclement of the EU Sommer,

October 15, by the Alliance 19-20 (Belgium); Camp on TTIP, by Belgian youth

organizations; event against poverty in Namur, by the movements which are already

organizing it; the Conference on Debt, by Attac; Opinion Court on the violation of economic

and social rights of women by organizers of the World March of Women.

Promoter Committee in Spain of EURO-MARCHES 2015