Strike hits Brussels ahead of EU summit

A general strike against the Belgian government’s austerity measures has kicked off in the capital, Brussels, bringing the city to a standstill ahead of an EU summit.

The strike has been planned to coincide with a summit of EU leaders on the eurozone debt crisis in Brussels, and is Belgium’s first general strike in almost two decades.

The strike by the public and private sectors workers is to protest EU-sponsored cutbacks.

The new Belgian government is seeking to save about EUR 11.3 billion (USD 14.84 billion) by raising taxes, slashing benefits and laying off workers. The government also cut EUR 1.3 billion of spending at the start of the year under the pressure of the European Commission.

Air travel is expected to be seriously disrupted, public transport halted, and roads blocked for 24-hours due to the strike.

European Union leaders are expected in Brussels to discuss budget rules for governments and ways to stimulate growth in the crisis-hit continent.