Labor unions led by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) gathered in Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece’s capital, to protest the 2022 budget, which is expected to be approved by parliament on Saturday. About 2,000 protesters claimed that the 2022 budget was reduced by 450 million euros compared to the previous budget, saying this cut would affect the entire public sector, including public health.
The budget will be voted on in the session on Saturday, and it is expected to lead to 4.5 percent economic growth in 2022. The budget, which goes into effect on January 1, includes a 2% increase in the minimum wage.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic warned that a proposed 30% US tariff on European goods would effectively amount to a trade ban, severely disrupting transatlantic supply chains.
Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Sefcovic expressed disappointment over a letter from US President Donald Trump that halted expected trade progress. “We were close to an agreement,” he said, but now “must prepare for all outcomes.”
The EU has delayed retaliatory measures on $72 billion worth of US goods until August 1, hoping for a negotiated resolution. Sefcovic emphasized that “no one wants a trade war,” while France urged faster preparation for countermeasures and Hungary blamed the EU Commission’s weak response to US pressure.
Danish and Lithuanian ministers echoed calls to avoid escalation but emphasized EU readiness to defend its interests.
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