Nieuws van de afdeling

4 March 2011

De Jong: Increase in budget for Euro-MPs should be rejected

SP-Euro-MP Dennis de Jong is against the increase in the staff allowance for Euro-MPs approved yesterday by the European Parliament Budget Committee. In De Jong’s view such a rise in times when austerity is being imposed everywhere else is indefensible. He points to the enormous amounts of money already available for reimbursement of office expenses, noting that he had returned €30,000 to the Parliament from this fund. ‘I call on all MEPs to do the same and to show that they are able to use taxpayers’ money with care,’ he says.

2 March 2011

Young postal workers concerned by liberalisation

Young postal workers from throughout the European Union gathered yesterday in the European Parliament to make clear to MEPs their disquiet over the consequences of the liberalisation of the post. Somewhat shocked by how few Euro-MPs were prepared to listen to their concerns, their reaction was put into words by a British postman who said that he was angry with the Brussels politicians. ‘It’s scandalous that they can push through liberalisation here when, aside from a few big corporations, nobody is happy with it, and then they refuse to meet with the postal workers.’

22 February 2011

'Faster asylum policy a good thing, but don’t erode human rights’

The SP is to a degree positive about the new proposals from Immigration and Asylum Minister Gerd Leers to speed up asylum policy. ‘The section of the proposal which calls for an extended and meticulous enquiry in response to the first request for asylum was put forward by the SP in 2009,’ Rik Janssen points out. ‘This would assure more clarity from all parties and more rapid follow-up procedures. However, to deny people the right to good legal support as Leers wants to, is ill-considered, inhumane and impractical.'

22 February 2011

Stop participation in arms fair, impose arms embargo on Middle East

SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel today called on the five participating Dutch firms to return from the massive arms fair in Abu Dhabi. Van Bommel is at the same time urging the EU to institute an immediate arms embargo on Libya and other countries in the Middle East which commit human rights abuses.

21 February 2011

EU must put pressure on to end violence in Libya

SP leader Emile Roemer has reacted with horror and disgust to reports that Libyan armed forces have opened fire on demonstrators. ‘This is a terrible crime to commit against your own people and must not go unanswered,’ he said. 'Bombing and shooting your own people with heavy armaments, including the air force, is a war crime. Premier Rutte must do all in his power at European level and in the world to have immediate sanctions imposed on Gaddafi’s regime.'

20 February 2011

Right-wing Parliamentary Excursion

The right-wing parties were determined, whatever the cost, for the first time in Dutch Parliamentary history, to force through a vote on the question of whether we should travel now or later.

International