Throughout the whole day economists, sociologists, trade unionists, politicians of the Party of the European Left (EL) and members of social movements of over 20 different countries analyse the causes and consequences of the policy of austerity and the pressure that the payment of debt is causing on the peoples of Europe. The president of the EL, Pierre Laurent, called this big event "an act of democratic construction" which will open an alternative debate with real solutions. He talked about how to face the debt problem in Europe and "how restructuring it to lighten it".

Facing a neoliberal policy "that imposes a unique diagnosis, vision and solution to the crisis", Pierre Laurent spoke of other alternatives and explained that the condition sin e qua non for such alternative is "the withdrawal of the financial markets and their influence in political parties".

The debate of the debt must cease to be a taboo, Laurent explained, to be placed in the heart of the political, economic and social debate, just as the role of banks needs to be discussed, the ending of the financial speculation and the role the European Central Bank, among other issues.

Proposals and conclusions  are  still being discussed until 8pm in the auditorium of the International Trade Union House in Brussels.

You can follow via livestream:
http://youtu.be/UfWKPRr82I8

Photos of the event can be downloaded from facebook:
http://www.european-left.org/node/2487#overlay-context=