International

Public broadcasting has an important task in the formation of public opinion and in ensuring that there is and continues to be a diversity of opinion represented on television. This is the position taken in the report from SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong debated today in the European Parliament. ‘In contrast to the Dutch government the majority of political groups in the European Parliament are clearly aware of the important social role played by public broadcasters,’ says De Jong. ‘The EP wants to see a pluralistic and accessible public broadcasting service unburdened by European competition rules. The Parliament also supported my demands for an enquiry into relations pf ownership within commercial broadcasting with a view to preveningt media conglomerates which are currently being formed from having too much power.’

‘The weed pass is dead. Long live the new weed pass.’ The “weed pass” is the name which has been given to the new system governing access to the Netherlands’ “coffee shops”, where the sale of limited quantities of cannabis is tolerated by the authorities. According to SP Member of Parliament Nine Kooiman describes the new system as ‘a guarantee of a flourishing drugs trade, especially for the street dealers’. She doesn’t have a good word for the government’s plans to replace the proposed weed pass, which generated massive opposition, for what Kooiman describes as “a weed pass deluxe”, consisting of the obligation to show proof of identity and proof of a local address. Referring to the fact that a “weed pass” was introduced some months ago in border towns, Kooiman says that ‘As the experiences in the South Netherlands region have shown, this policy generates far more unregulated street trade. The cure is far worse than the disease. So we must put a stop to any form of compulsory weed pass.’