Van Rompuy to anti austerity protesters: EU not about dismantling social protection

European Council President Herman van Rompuy on Thursday moved to reassure the 20000 demonstrators who held a protest near EU institutions, on the day of the EU Council Summit of March 24-25th. Van Rompuy said that the adoption of any Europact, or competitiveness pact was not a move aimed at dismantaling Europe’s Social protection instruments, although he did warn that they were in themselves dependant on strong EU economic growth.