The 1^stof May, Labour Day, is the day when we commemorate the fight of people all over the world for their right to work – decent work, which has to provide a decent life. ECOSY,representing all socialist, social democratic, labour youth organizations and progressive young people from Europe,honors this day by participating in the workers’ demonstrations and commemorations all over Europe.

But honor and memory once a year are not enough. This is why we, Young European Socialists, fight every day, everywhere, for our cause: for decent work and decent life, far from any discriminations based on gender, origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age; for equality and solidarity; for social security and secure jobs; for sustainable growth with a human face; for life-long education of high quality for all; for more and better jobs for the young and women. We support the trade unions in their strive, and we struggle with them for a more progressive and optimistic future.We believe in an integrated European society, which will profit from the richness of its diversity.

The European Commission has presented three days ago its economy forecast for 2008, which notes a financial downturn and states that job creation will decrease almost by a half. We consider this a conservative approach, and we call for a serious effort from the Commission and the national governments to build a concrete and integrated macroeconomic policy, which will lead to financial consolidation, offer security and stability to the European economy, and eventually motivate – rather than halt – the creation of new jobs in the EU.