EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Greek EU commissioner has mounted a stern attack on the austerity policies demanded by her own institution in a remarkable break with the dominant consensus both within the EU executive and its governments.
Maria Damanaki, the commissioner for maritime affairs, publicly distanced herself from European Commission policies that she says could lead to "social degradation" and called for an "alternative economic policy agenda".
In a prepared speech to a meeting of trade unionists in Brussels earlier this week, she said: "We have been too shy with the growth and job part of our resolve. While no could deny the need for fiscal consolidation, one could have aimed at a better balance between austerity and growth.
Composed of individuals from across the mainstream of the political spectrum -13 conservatives, seven liberals and seven social democrats, each member is appointed by a national government and they are not supposed to represent their state within the EU executive.
http://euobserver.com/9/31879
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