Fortress Europe will do nothing to help working people

Commenting on the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:

"At a time when we need Europe to be a project of hope, we've been offered a council of despair.

"The only return leaders should be discussing is the return to a social Europe that delivers improvements to the lives of working people while playing a responsible role in the world.

"The EU's own polling shows the cost-of-living is the top priority of citizens but the Council offered no solutions to people struggling to afford life's basics despite working long hours in tough jobs because of low pay.

"Instead, we got a discussion about Trump-style migration policies that will see the human rights of vulnerable people violated. Fortress Europe will do nothing to improve the lives of working people. As new EU data shows, it's corporate greed that is putting people's livelihoods at risk, not refugees.

"Europe needs to redouble its efforts and actions for peace, and create more regular migration routes that ensure people who do come to Europe can't be exploited by unscrupulous bosses."