Vacationing is a human right according to the European Union and they are launching a program to make sure those in Europe who might not be able to afford one will still get one.
EU member nations already mandate 4 weeks of vacation per year, and some countries mandate more (6 weeks in France). And the plan proposed by EU Commissioner Antonio Tajani calls for folks in southern Europe to travel North and vice-versa, meaning they are not calling for subsidized vacations to Tahiti or Vegas.
Yes, subsidized:
"The plan -- just who gets to enjoy the travel package has yet to be determined -- would see taxpayers footing some of the vacation bill for seniors, youths between the ages of 18 and 25, disabled people, and families facing "difficult social, financial or personal" circumstances. The disabled and elderly can also be accompanied by one other person. The EU and its taxpayers are slated to fund 30% of the cost of these tours, which could range from youth exploring abandoned factories and power plants in Manchester to retirees taking discount trips to Madrid, all in the name of cultural appreciation.
"The commission is literally considering paying people to go on holiday," Mats Persson, of pro-reform think-tank Open Europe, told Britain's News of the World. "In this economic climate, it's astonishing that the EU wants to bribe people with cheap holidays."
Since the nation of Greece is in financial meltdown, it's unclear if the entire EU will go along with this plan.
I am willing to travel (on a paid basis) to explore this topic further.
I think this is a good thing for the US as it would most likely weaken further the value of the Euro. With the inflationary pressure the US dollar faces we need all the help we can get.
ReplyDeleteNow if we could get the Chinese to start taking a 15 minute break during their 15 hour day.
That's an amazing story and attitude. Love it.
ReplyDelete