EU-SUMMIT/PROTEST Hundreds of protesters take to streets on sidelines of EU summit

Record ID: 134952

  • Title: EU-SUMMIT/PROTEST Hundreds of protesters take to streets on sidelines of EU summit
  • Date: 15th October 2015
  • Summary: PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "TTIP: No Way!" PROTESTERS STANDING AROUND STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE UNIONS POLICY OFFICER, NADJA SALSON, SAYING: "Today the EU leaders are meeting and we want to show them that people don't want, you know, corporate to encroach on public services, access to water, access to health and educat
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABJY1PIJ18U04S6KR1W7HKENVM
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of protesters from across Europe gathered in Brussels on Thursday (October 15) to voice their opinions on a host of issues, from austerity to human rights and a planned free trade deal between Europe and the United States.
    Demonstrators took to the streets of the Belgian capital to draw the attention of European leaders who are meeting in Brussels for a summit.
    Policy officer Nadja Salson, representing the European Federation of Public Service Unions during the protest, said she was worried about the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Critics of the trade deal fear the pact between the EU and the U.S. will hand too much power to big multinationals at the expense of consumers and workers.
    "Today the EU leaders are meeting and we want to show them that people don't want, you know, corporate to encroach on public services, access to water, access to health and education, a part of human rights so we want governments to ensure that large companies are not going to attack and privatise those public services through those trade agreements," Salson told Reuters Television.
    Some protesters had spent a month travelling to Brussels for the demonstration, including group Euromarchas, who left Cadiz in Spain on October 1 and protested in as many as 20 cities before ending their journey in Brussels.
    Euromarchas spokesperson Rafael de la Rubia said he hoped to inspire more people to protest against big institutions.
    "Our goal is that from now on, people participate much more in Europe's construction. Until now, Europe has been built by institutions and big parties but the people have to start speaking and mobilise in Europe so that is it a Europe in favour of population and not in favour of multinationals. The interest is to build a different Europe," he said.
    Around 500 protesters took part in the peaceful demonstration, with police reinforcing security around the European Council where leaders are meeting with riot police and water canons.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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