site.btaPodkrepa Confederation of Labour: Militarization of EU Budgets Raises Concerns Among Trade Unions

The trend toward the militarization of budgets in the European Union (EU) is causing concern among trade unions, as the European social model is under threat, said on Monday Veselin Mitov, International Secretary of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour. He took part in a forum titled "Quality Jobs and Fair Wages: The Focus of Trade Unions from EU Candidate Countries" organized by Podkrepa Confederation of Labour as part of a project by the European Centre for Workers' Questions (EZA) on the state of the EU accession process for candidate countries.

Mitov noted that a geopolitical dynamic is unfolding that requires accelerated changes. The expansion of the EU has increasingly become a strategic necessity, he said, emphasizing that the EU is currently in the longest period in its history without expansion. Six of the candidate countries are from the Western Balkans, a region that, according to Mitov, is becoming increasingly important due to the risk of destabilization in Europe.

Podkrepa Confederation of Labour President Dimitar Manolov said that the conference will focus on industrial relations and workplace democracy. The two-day forum brings together trade union representatives from 30 countries, he added.

Manolov also pointed out that politicians only recognize good ways to resolve relations when they experience destruction and crises firsthand. He expressed concerns that after the election of US President Donald Trump, the world has changed. “I am personally very worried about what is being said in Europe lately, how we will be arming ourselves, how billions of money will be taken from all of us, because these billions will not come from anywhere else, they will come at the expense of our wages, our benefits, and our pensions," Manolov said.

Economic and Social Council Chair Zornitsa Rusinova said that since last week, everyone has been shaken, as they had previously taken democracy and peace for granted, understanding war only through the stories of their grandparents. "We cannot accept that defense and security will be the priorities in Europe's new agenda," she stated. "Two other important issues announced by the EU last week have been pushed to the background: the signing of the Social Dialogue Pact between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Trade Union Confederation President Wolfgang Katzian, and the announcement of the Union for Skills," she added. According to Rusinova, these are crucial initiatives with a significant impact on labour market processes in Europe.