Sympathie-Erklärung deutscher Gewerkschafter und Intellektueller für den "European Alternative Summit" in Athen, 7.6.2013 (engl. Originalfassung)
The situation in Europe is becoming increasingly more alarming. Large parts of our continent are slipping back into a recession, without having really overcome the effects of the crisis in 2008.
In the countries most effected by the crisis, unemployment and social impoverishment are at unprecedented levels.
People are in despair and are losing their trust in democracy. It is becoming increasingly obvious how disastrous it has been for the countries forced by Troika to cut government spending and dismantle the welfare state.
As if cuts in health and education and the abolition of worker’s rights have ever paved the way to a better economic, social and environmental development for any country!
We, as people living in Germany are rather disconcerted with our extraordinarily stubborn federal government that seems to promote these undemocratic crisis-aggravating policies.
Only one thing will be achieved: Social problems will become national problems.
Thus countries and people will be set against each other and consequently Europe will be torn apart.
Europe urgently needs some signs of togetherness and solidarity. One such sign is set for 7th/8th June. People from all parts of our continent will meet in Athens for a "European alternative summit". The motto: "Stop the austerity measures before the austerity measures destroy democracy!" We welcome this initiative, which emanates from a wide range of social organizations and is supported by trade unions from many European countries including Germany.
The meeting in Athens will be a forum on an exchange of ideas on the urgently needed alternative concepts to overcome the crisis.
We express our sympathy with the "European alternative summit" also out of a sense of responsibility towards a social and democratic Europe.
In the German public the sign of togetherness, which will emanate from the Athens meeting, deserves special attention.
Whoever can go there, should do so. Europe needs a public debate on solidarity, democracy and our future together.
Christiane Benner, IG Metall
Annelie Buntenbach, DGB
Jutta Ehlers, IG Metall
Michael Erhardt, IG Metall
Florian Haggenmiller, DGB-Youth
Klaus Helmerichs, IG Metall
Andreas Keller, GEW
Jörg Köhlinger, IG Metall
Andrea Kocsis, ver.di
Detlef Kunkel, IG Metall
Rudi Lutz, IG Metall
Dr. Rudolf Luz, IG Metall
Uwe Meinhardt, IG Metall
Andreas Meyer-Lauber, DGB
Jürgen Peters, IG Metall
Gunter Quaißer, GEW
Lilo Rademacher, IG Metall
Dr. Witich Roßmann, IG Metall
Armin Schild, IG Metall
Dieter Scholz, DGB
Horst Schmitthenner, IG Metall
Helga Schwitzer, IG Metall
Franz Steinkühler, IG Metall
Ulrich Thöne, GEW
Dr. Hans-Jürgen Urban, IG Metall
Frank Werneke, ver.di
Gerhard Wick, IG Metall
Prof. Dr. Elmar Altvater, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Bieling, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bosch, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brinkmann, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Klaus Busch, social scientist
Dr. Michael Dauderstädt, economist
Prof. Dr. Frank Deppe, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Klaus Dörre, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Trevor Evans, economist
Prof. Dr. Andreas Fisahn, legal scientist
Dr. Steffen Lehndorff, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Birgit Mahnkopf, social scientist
Prof. Dr. Thomas Sauer, economist
Prof. Dr. Michael Schumann, social scientist
Dr. Sigrid Skarpelis-Sperk, economist
Prof. Dr. Karl Georg Zinn, economist