International

Member of Parliament and SP development spokesman Ewout Irrgang took part yesterday in a protest action in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The action was aimed at the free trade agreements which the European Union is attempting to foist on a number of former European colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the so-called ACP countries. The demonstration was part of a coordinated series of actions internationally, including one in front of the national parliament building in The Hague.

Following the Labour Party's U-turn on the question of a referendum on the new EU treaty, the SP will be putting all of its efforts into generating a head of steam to ensure that public pressure forces a vote to be held. Using an on-line petition, the SP is calling on supporters of both sides, and every political party, to demand that the coalition government of Christian Democrats, Labour and Christian Union hold a referendum. The Socialist Party, which played a leading role in the successful 'No' campaign of 2005, hopes to see opposition political parties of the right – the VVD and PvdV – as well as centre-left Green Left and D66, the PvdD (Animal Rights Party), trade unions and social organisations join the campaign.