Unions march on Nice

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is expecting a massive demonstration in Nice on 6 December to coincide with the European Union summit. It hopes that more than 60,000 workers will take to the streets of the French town to put pressure on Europe's leaders.

The ETUC believes that "Europe is still too market-focused and capital-driven and cares too little about social aspects and jobs". Key concerns at the ETUC rally will be action to reduce unemployment and giving the new charter of fundamental rights binding legal force (see Labour Research November 2000 page 8).

The ETUC also wants to see more majority voting in the council of ministers, the main decision-making body where national states are represented, as it believes that the national veto has become "a road block, stopping the EU from moving down the road of social progress".