German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders are due to meet for a summit
in Brussels Monday to discuss boosting the financial defences and securing growth
across the Eurozone.
However, Belgium's three main unions are joining hands
as of late this evening in a 24-hour strike to protest national budgetary measures
that have in part been imposed on Belgium by the EU.
No major demonstrations
are planned but the union leaders will head to the summit site to deliver a symbolic
``eurobond'' pressing for a joint pooling of debt in the eurozone, a measure that
has been steadfastly opposed by Germany. Overall, 23 million people are jobless across
the EU, 10 percent of the active population.