International

The high level deliberations on the reform of the United Nations have already proved a major disappointment, according to Harry van Bommel, member of parliament and foreign affairs specialist for the SP. “My initial optimism, based on the clear plans outlined by Kofi Annan, had already been greatly diluted, by amongst other things the position taken by the American representative John Bolton. The original conclusion that the world had need of greatly improved co-operation and that the UN must for that reason be reformed and strengthened has not to any extent been transformed from words into deeds.”

The European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs this morning voted by a convincing majority of 20-11 to reject the Port Services Directive. Alternative proposals to amend the text were therefore not voted on. This follows yesterday's vote from the Committee on the Internal Market, which rejected the proposed measure by a similar margin, with 23 Members voting against and three abstaining. This is far from being the end of the story, but represents a major step towards the measure's complete defeat. Or, as SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer put it: “This is to be greatly welcomed, but it doesn't mean we're quite home and dry just yet.”