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Thousands protest against European Union austerity cuts | Thousands protest against European Union austerity cuts |
(40 minutes later) | |
Thousands of demonstrators have turned out in European cities to protest against austerity measures. | Thousands of demonstrators have turned out in European cities to protest against austerity measures. |
Spanish students held protests in Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid against cuts to education budgets, which in some instances turned violent. | |
Unions staged demonstrations in Paris, Athens, Lisbon and Brussels. | |
The protests come ahead of a European Union summit on Thursday aimed at boosting economic growth and tightening fiscal responsibility. | |
Union leaders and workers called on EU leaders to find an alternative to cuts to social services and welfare. | |
In Spain, thousands of schoolchildren and university students left the classroom and took to the streets to protest against education spending cuts. | |
The BBC's Tom Burridge in Valencia said some schools were so short of funds after failing to receive payments from cash-strapped regional governments that parents had to step in and lend them money. | |
Young people in Barcelona clashed with the police, with some protesters throwing rocks and setting fire to rubbish bins. Officers in riot gear reportedly charged a crowd of demonstrators outside the city's stock exchange. | |
Our correspondent said Spanish police were recently widely criticised for using "heavy handed" tactics against students demonstrating in Valencia. | |
'Enough is enough' | 'Enough is enough' |
In Greece, union members stopped work for three hours to protest against the government's painful new austerity measures. | In Greece, union members stopped work for three hours to protest against the government's painful new austerity measures. |
They include a a 22% cut in the minimum wage and steep reductions in pensions and benefits. | They include a a 22% cut in the minimum wage and steep reductions in pensions and benefits. |
Union protesters in Brussels gathered outside the EU headquarters and national bank as representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met with the EU president. | Union protesters in Brussels gathered outside the EU headquarters and national bank as representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met with the EU president. |
"Enough is enough. Austerity measures do not work,'' ETUC leader Bernadette Segol told Associated Press. | "Enough is enough. Austerity measures do not work,'' ETUC leader Bernadette Segol told Associated Press. |
"We have alternatives, and Europe must work for employment and social justice." | "We have alternatives, and Europe must work for employment and social justice." |
EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit that will focus on tackling sluggish growth. | EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit that will focus on tackling sluggish growth. |
According to the European Commission's annual growth survey for 2012, overall EU growth is expected to be as low as 0.6%, with unemployment levels likely to remain at around 10% into 2013. | According to the European Commission's annual growth survey for 2012, overall EU growth is expected to be as low as 0.6%, with unemployment levels likely to remain at around 10% into 2013. |
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