International

The country's leading trade union grouping 'FNV Bondgenoten' has joined the SP in expressing concern over the likely consequences of the ending of restrictions on the entry of workers from the new EU member states. Borders will be fully opened from 1st May, and SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel has welcomed the fact that criticism of the move is spreading. “Employers are exploiting people from the new EU countries,” he said. “This will lead to displacement and deprive young people who leave school with craft qualifications of any prospect of work.”

The PvdA (Labour Party) is supporting the government in its decision to permit more EU influence on Dutch criminal law. The social democrats refused to back an SP motion to put pressure on the cabinet to resist such interference, despite the fact that the resolution was supported by the parliamentary groups of the VVD (right wing market liberals) and D66 (centrist liberals), two members of the three-party governing coalition. "This is just the same as supporting the European Constitution, which was rejected by the Dutch people on 1st June,” declared SP member of Parliament Jan de Wit, who presented the motion.