International

The SP is urging that the proposed liberalisation of visa controls between the EU and Ukraine be stopped as a response to the latter’s homophobic laws. Newly introduced laws mean that people and organisations who give positive information or counselling on homosexuality can be sentenced to up to five years in prison. 'Europe must continue to take a firm stand for human rights,’ says De Jong. ‘A Ukrainian government which tramples over the rights of homosexuals should not be rewarded with a liberalised visa system.’

The European Parliament (EP) Budget Committee today proposed an increase of at least 6.8% - almost 7 cents in the euro. Describing the proposed sum as ‘totally unrealistic, SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong said, ’This is the umpteenth example of the Parliament’s “ivory tower” behaviour. While member states are often forced to take the most extreme austerity measures, the idea the EU budget must, on the contrary, rise is here alive and well. For ordinary people in the Netherlands, who are themselves confronted by the consequences of the spending cuts, this is extraordinarily frustrating.'