International

SP-Euro-MP Dennis de Jong is critical of the parliamentary report on pensions prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Ria Oomen. In De Jong’s view the report gives the impression that it is calling for binding European agreements on the pensions systems of the member states. 'The report argues for a raising of the pensionable age, which is a purely national matter,’ he says. ‘In the Netherlands it’s absolutely unnecessary – we have no need for any regulation from Brussels in this policy area.’

On the initiative of SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong and others, the European Parliament today debated asylum policy in Europe. Several EU member states are unhappy with the new asylum package establishing revised rules regarding the reception, processing and return of asylum seekers. These new rules are urgently needed because the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) recently banned the forcible return of asylum seekers to Greece, where many of them enter the EU and where the current rules say their applications should therefore be processed. 'Without sound European rules it’s only a question of time before Italy too fails to meet standards,’ warns De Jong. ‘The ECHR would then block the transfer of asylum seekers to Italy. Clearly we now need to find rapid agreement on reception and processing, and on the division of responsibilities. An emergency procedure for extreme situations such as we see now on Lampedusa must form part of this.’