By Carlos Villota,
As Europe broke for Easter, debt activists gathered in Brussels and formed the International Citizens Audit Network. The network brings together European and North African CSOs that use debt audits as a tool for demanding information about the origins of the public debt of their countries.
Activists from twelve different countries attended this first Euro-Mediterranean meeting:
Participants shared experiences and information between the various organisations, networks, and social movements behind debt audit initiatives in the different Euro-Mediterranean counties. They also planned joint actions and mobilisation strategies.
Furthermore, the meeting laid the foundation for improved communication and major coordinated action by the international network. Participants drafted a common calendar highlighting key dates for mobilisation such us International Workers
Greek activists’ proposal for a global day of action against debt and austerity in October, in solidarity with Greek people, was enthusiastically received. It was proposed that this day of action should occur during the annual Global action week against debt and IFIs on 8 - 15 October. This year it will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the death of Thomas Sankara, the former President of Burkina Faso who called for repudiation of debts and who was murdered due to his radical stance against social, economic and political exploitation.
The meeting ended withtags: debt audits, austerity, Thomas Sankara, ECB