Nieuws van de afdeling

21 December 2011

SP supports European Parliament condemnation of degrading conditions in member states’ prisons

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning the existence of degrading prison conditions within the European Union. ‘This sends a powerful signal from the Parliament to all member states that such conditions in detention facilities must be prevented throughout the European Union,’ says SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong.

20 December 2011

Gesthuizen: The Netherlands is failing in the international effort to combat paedophiles

SP Member of Parliament Sharon Gesthuizen wants to see the Netherlands doing more to contribute to the international fight against child abuse. Gesthuizen was responding to revelations by renowned Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries regarding a convicted Dutch paedophile who was able to establish a children’s home in Cambodia. ‘Why did the Dutch ambassador not inform the Cambodian authorities of his past when they finally arrested the man?’ she asks. ‘And could convicted paedophiles not be subjected to greater surveillance when they travel to high-risk countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines?’

16 December 2011

Observing Russia’s elections

SP Senator Tiny Kox was head of the Council of Europe observers’ team for the Russian elections which took place on 4th December. Below, he reports on his experiences.

16 December 2011

Kox chosen to lead post-election observer team

The Council of Europe will send a further team of observers to Russia following the remarkable events surrounding the parliamentary elections on 4th December. SP Senator Tiny Kox has been asked to lead the mission.

15 December 2011

SP: ‘Put an end to back room politics in Brussels’

The European Parliament today voted by a large majority to extend the right of the citizen to information. Commenting on the vote, SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong said: 'The European Commission wants to furnish the citizen with less information, even though many members of the public already complain that they find Brussels to be a “black box”. The EP must put pressure on the Commission to put an end to back room politics, by which lobbyists from major corporations always have a head start when it comes to being informed and thus disproportionate influence.’

14 December 2011

Top EU officials secure their own salaries

The European Commission is keen to maintain the ample salaries and bonuses of its senior officials. In order to be able to do this, they will cut the pay of the least well-paid, those who usually perform supporting and administrative tasks. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong, commenting on the decision, said: ‘The Commission is leaving officials who earn more than Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel pretty well untouched, while at the same time cutting the salaries of newly appointed administrative personnel by 18%, almost a fifth. In the SP’s view this is the world turned upside down.’

International