We are witnessing a growing schizophrenic attitude and behaviour by the EU. On the one hand, it rhetorically emphasizes social cohesion and growth (now even with a "Social Investment Pact"). On the other hand, through the economic stability pact, it compels the member states to reduce their budget, ignoring the plight of the poor, of the unemployed, of those needing social services that instead are being reduced, while also proposing to reduce the social cohesion and social funds (see the stalemate of 22-23 November 2012 on the budget) .