Conference - Analysis, resistance and alternatives to Corporate Europe - CEO & TNI

conference - analysis, resistance and alternatives to Corporate Europe

*Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 May 2012 : Maison des Associations
Internationales, Brussels*

*Join us in a two-day conference in Brussels with movements from across
Europe to strengthen progressive responses to the EU's crisis. *

*Speakers will include Susan George <http://www.tni.org/george> -
Ignacio Ramonet <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignacio_Ramonet> - Leigh
Phillips <http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/leigh-phillips> - E
<http://esthervivas.wordpress.com/english/>sther Vivas
<http://esthervivas.wordpress.com/english/> - Mar
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QISxc4JQh3U>iana Mortágua
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QISxc4JQh3U> - Alexis Passadakis
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOGjb6Nk-Jg> - Miren Etxezarreta
<http://blogs.publico.es/dominiopublico/category/miren-etxezarreta/> as
well as activists from movements in Greece, Portugal and many other
countries.*

*Organised by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), in cooperation with
the Transnational Institute (TNI) and with the support of the European
Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU)*

*Read this invitation in: *Français
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/fr/lue-en-crise-analyses-r-sistances-et-alternatives-leurope-des-entreprises>
Nederlands
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/nl/de-europese-unie-crisis-analyse-verzet-en-alternatieven-weg-met-het-europa-van-banken-en>
Deutsch
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/de/die-eu-der-krise-analysen-widerstand-und-alternativen-zum-europa-der-konzerne>
Ελληνικά <http://www.corporateeurope.org/el/node/868> Italiano
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/it/lue-crisi-analisi-resistenza-ed-alternative-alleuropa-delle-imprese>
Portuguese, International
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/pt/ue-em-crise-resist-ncia-lise-e-alternativas-europa-das-multinacionais>
Español
<http://www.corporateeurope.org/es/la-ue-en-crisis-lisis-resistencias-y-alternativas-la-europa-de-las-multinacionales>

The EU's response to the financial crisis and the escalating eurocrisis
has exposed more clearly than ever the disastrous dominance of
neoliberal ideology. Obsessed with budgetary discipline, EU
decision-makers are imposing sweeping austerity measures, privatising
public services and cutting welfare. Corporate lobby groups see their
longstanding demands implemented overnight while the living standards of
millions are undermined and economies grind to a halt.

The EU's emphasis on free markets and deregulation in the last two
decades was a crucial factor in causing the current crisis. This included:

*

Deregulation of the financial markets, allowing a credit-fuelled
bubble that collapsed in 2008, and which boosted the powers of
speculators

*

The single currency which exacerbated the differences between
stronger and weaker economies

*

The drive for liberalisation and 'competitiveness' which left
almost every sector of society exposed to market forces, at the
expense of social rights, environmental regulation and public
services.

These flawed policies were heavily influenced by corporate lobbying,
reflecting how big business had captured the policy-making processes in
Brussels and in member states.

Since 2008, billions of taxpayers' euros have been spent on saving banks
that had recklessly gambled on speculative markets, transferring private
debt to public debt. Following the crisis, the power of the financial
lobbies - and their easy access to decision-makers - has ensured that
only limited regulation has been introduced.

EU decision-makers pre-occupied with appeasing the financial markets are
now implementing new 'economic governance' rules and a new EU treaty to
support their "shock doctrine". These measures challenge the core of
democracy in Europe, putting crucial decisions in the hands of
technocrats. This is the Europe of big banks and corporations which
sidelines any attempt at a 'Social Europe'.

There are encouraging signs of resistance. The indignados and occupy
movements, union strikes and demonstrations, mark a growing rejection of
the EU's free-market fundamentalism. These are indicators of a different
Europe emerging: a Europe that insists on democracy and refuses to be
run by big business and technocrats.

Since 1997, Corporate Europe Observatory has been working to expose and
counter the influence of corporations that is distorting democracy and
undermining social and environmental protection. The urgency of
discussing workable alternatives, strategy and common actions at the
European level has never been more evident. Join us to celebrate our
15^th anniversary in a two-day conference in Brussels with movements
from across Europe to strengthen progressive responses to the EU's
crisis. The conference will be in English with translations into French
and Spanish provided.

Registrations for this conference will open later in February. Watch
this space for more information or email
conference2012@corporateeurope.org
<mailto:conference2012@corporateeurope.org> to get an alert when booking
has started.

Source : message reçu le 20 février 18h