As thousands of demonstrators marched in European capitals on Wednesday to protest recent austerity measures, officials in EU proposed stiffening sanctions for governments that fail to cut their budget deficits and debt swiftly enough.

European workers and representatives take part in a "No to austerity! Priority for jobs and growth!" protest in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 29, 2010. The demonstration was organised by the 27 trade unions of the EU countries. [Zhang Wei/Xinhua]

In Madrid

The first general strike that Spain has witnessed for eight years ended Wednesday with a march through the streets of Madrid. The march, which was led by Union Leaders Carmona Mendez and Ignacio Toxo, began at the emblematic Plaza Neptuno, before moving along the city's main road the Paseo de la Castellana to Plaza Cibeles.

Tens of thousands of workers took the opportunity to join the march, organized in protest at the labor reform of Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his Socialist Party ( PSOE).

In Brussels

Tens of thousands of workers marched through streets in Brussels on Wednesday to protest the budget-slashing plans taken by many European governments to rein in deficits.

The protest started at 1 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) at the Gare du Midi (south railway station). Workers headed for the Cinquantenaire Park near the European Union institutions, waving union flags and carrying banners saying "No to austerity," "No cuts" and "Priority for jobs and growth." The whole procession went peacefully and orderly.