There are 20 million registered unemployed in the European Union today, and 50 million people are living below the poverty line.

We could all, one day, be affected by unemployment and poverty. The breakdown of the welfare state, increasing unemployment and the onslaught of poverty are attacking people's dignity, as witnessed by lower standards of working conditions, dropping incomes and welfare benefits to the lowest possible level, inciting racism by encouraging inequality. At the same times, the people are not in control of either the capital, the land and the means of production.

The situation is totally unacceptable.

The European Union has started discussions on the future of the Union within this year's Intergouvernemental Conference.

We refuse to let the discussions be limited to institutional questions, allowing measures which claim to favour employment actually contribute to job insecurity. All the indicators show that the real social problems which preoccupy people in every country, will not be tackled at all. We believe that, on the contrary, the only way forward is a targeted attack on the causes of unemployment with a radical, political solution. Above all, our immediate objective is for all the unemployed, those on low incomes and the disadvantaged to be allowed a dignifield life-style, and for small-holders to live off their land. This include, for both nationals and immigrants, the right to housing, education, health, freedom of movement, sexual equality and a decent living wage...

This programme reiterates :

European Marches

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first text about les Marches
Appeal from Turin

• A Europe of full employment where anyone with the will to work can do so for a decent living wage.
• The creation of new jobs, in professions including health, education, and environment which respond to needs of society.
• A different distribution of wealth, ensuring taxation of financial speculation.

A massive drop in unemployment can be brought about during a period of increased productivity, by a substantial reduction in working hours, without a drop in wages, and an immediate increase in recruitment. To ensure that the programme is acted on by politicians, all those who sense the menace of exclusion and insecurity - workers, the unemployed, small-holders, the young, the retired - must act as a single group throughout Europe.

We are calling for European Marches against Unemployment, Job Insecurity and Exclusion.

To continue the campaign for the Spring of 97, the signatories call for :

• the creation of national comittees to organise the marches, grouping together unions, the volontary sector and individuals comitted to action at a European level.
• participation of all interested groups and individuals at the Colloquy called to launch the campaign at Brussels January 1997.

First signatures
Great Britain: National Unemployed Centres Combine
France: Agir ensemble contre le chômage (AC!), ADEC, Association pour l'entraide, l'information et la solidarité (APEIS), Droit au logement (DAL), Droit Devant (DD!!), Mouvement National des Chômeurs et Précaires (MNCP)
Irland: Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)
Spain: General Confederation of Employ (CGT), LAB (Basque country), Meza civica (Catalonia)
Germany: KAIROS Europe
Belgium: Kairos Europe, Collectif Solidarité Emploi
Italy: Marizio Poletto Alternativa sindical (CGIL) et Giorgio Sasso CGIL / Centre information pour les chômeurs, Turin / Italy

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