European Union: European Sunday Alliance (ESA), launch of new social media campaign for weekly rest ahead of European elections

Ensuring that all EU legislation respects and promotes “the protection of a common weekly day of rest for all people living and working in the EU”, which shall be in principle on a Sunday, in order to “protect workers’ health, promote a better work-life balance, and foster adequate time especially for families and young workers for worship and community, social and religious engagement”. This is one of the demands contained in the new Manifesto issued today by the Steering Committee of the European Sunday Alliance ahead of the 2024 European elections. The Alliance calls on MEPs and candidates in the European elections to recognise the value of the establishment of a common weekly day of rest. In recent days, the European Alliance has launched a video campaign to raise awareness among EU and national political leaders, as well as citizens, about the positive effects of a synchronised weekly day of rest. All videos can be viewed on ESA’s social media accounts – Twitter and Facebook – or on the COMECE’s YouTube. Supporters of the ESA initiative and campaign include: Miriam Lexmann (PPE – Slovakia), who is also the Alliance’s main sponsor, Gabriele Bischoff (S&D – Germany), Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP – Czech Republic), Michaela Šojdrová (EPP – Czech Republic), Katrin Langensiepen (Greens – Germany), Evelyn Regner (S&D – Austria), Dragoș Pîslaru (Renew Europe – Romania), Dennis Radtke (EPP – Germany), and Brando Benifei (S&D – Italy). The Alliance is a network of more than 100 national alliances, trade unions, employers’ organisations, civil society associations, churches and religious communities in the European Union. COMECE is a founder member of the European Sunday Alliance.
Valentina Bombelli