International

“As far as we are concerned the discussion over a further term for Neelie Kroes is closed," said SP member of Parliament and spokesman on European affairs Harry van Bommel during Wednesday's parliamentary debate on the nomination of a new European Commissioner from the Netherlands. “In recent weeks Kroes has campaigned for her party, the VVD. In our view that isn't what a European Commissioner, an official who belongs in the background, implementing decisions from the member states and the European Parliament, should be doing.”

“Totally a-social" was SP number one candidate Dennis de Jong's description of the statement on labour migration by Wim van de Camp of the Christian Democrat CDA. Van de Camp's statement came during a debate between leading candidates which took place last Thursday in Leiden. Van de Camp described himself as "hesitant" about labour migration, but had no problem in wanting to attract workers in cases where firms had need of them. De Jong replied that "We bring people here when we need them, but treat developing countries badly by dumping our food surpluses on them." This policy, he said, leads to ruinous competition for farmers in Africa.