International

The European Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control this morning discussed the Parliament’s 2013 spending plans. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong: ‘This Committee’s proposal that the constant flitting between Brussels and Strasbourg be ended is a fine step, but it’s extraordinarily hypocritical of the Members of the EP to refuse to put an end to their own exorbitant expense payments. In addition to an enormous salary MEPs receive expense payment which overlap, such as the daily allowance and the allowance for distance from home, or those which are not expected to be reimbursement for sensible spending, as is the case for office costs. That allowance could certainly be lowered somewhat and made more transparent.”

The Dutch economy is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) but laws and regulations are almost all designed to favour big corporations. That’s why the SP and the group for small and medium-sized businesses, MKB-Nederland, are in favour of applying an ‘SME test’ to all new laws and regulations. This was the conclusion of the special Day for SMEs organised today in Utrecht by the SP and MKB-Nederland. SP leader Emile Roemer told the gathering that ‘in recent years what we’ve mostly heard when it comes to the economy is “big, bigger, biggest”. We are arguing for more attention to be paid to small businesses. New laws must from now on be SME-friendly.’