Nieuws van de afdeling

18 November 2010

Minister agrees to SP request for report on cyber attacks

Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal today agreed to SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel’s request to commission an independent report – from the Advisory Council on International Issues (AIV) - on the risks of an attack via the Internet, or so-called ‘cyber attack’. Combating international aggression via the Internet will be discussed next weekend at the NATO summit in Lisbon, and fresh measures may find a place in the alliance’s new strategic concept.

16 November 2010

Major corporations still dominate Brussels back rooms

The European Commission has proposed new rules governing lobbyists in policy advice committees, or expert groups as they are known. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong has in recent months been heavily involved in the development of these rules but describes himself as ‘extremely disappointed by the final outcome. Major corporations will still dominate the back-rooms of Brussels. Only recently I heard an example of this from Greenpeace, how they were kept out of an expert group by pressure from the industry lobby, which is just what I’ve heard before from consumer organisations and bodies representing small businesses.`

16 November 2010

SP goes in to bat for co-ops

During a meeting organized today in the European Parliament on the role of co-operatives, representative of the European Commission Michel Barnier announced that concrete proposals were being developed designed to adjust European legislation which was disadvantageous to the interests of such groups. It was agreed that before the summer of 2011 a ‘wish-list’ would be provided which Commissioner Barnier and others will be able to use in the framework of the proposed European Social Business Act.

12 November 2010

No to ‘training mission’ in Afghanistan

Prime minister Mark Rutte’s government will shortly take a decision regarding a renewed military mission in Afghanistan. In view of the failure of the mission to produce results, it would be better to say ‘no’ for once to NATO’s request, argues SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel.

12 November 2010

Turkish Presidency of Council of Europe: Kox tells Turkey he wants to see ‘action’

Since 1st November, Turkey has held the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of Europe. Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stated his desire ‘to strengthen the political role, the visibility and the influence of the oldest pan-European organisation on both the European and the international level.' He expressed this ambition in Antalya, during a meeting with the Parliamentary Assembly of the 47-member state organisation. SP Senator Tiny Kox, who chairs the Assembly’s United European Left political group, advised him to set an example.

10 November 2010

No EU subsidies without accountability

The Netherlands must put pressure on certain other member states to prove themselves accountable when it comes to the spending of EU subsidies which they have received. If necessary, Secretary of State Ben Knapen should veto the multi-annual EU budget. Negotiations begin shortly on the budget, which requires unanimous approval. The demand came from SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel in response to yesterday's publication of the annual report from the European Court of Auditors, an official EU body which monitors spending of EU monies. "We already pay too much to Europe," says Van Bommel, "and now we don't know whether this money is being spent well or not. The government must take a clear stand against these member states: improve your accountability, or the Netherlands won't agree to any future EU subsidies."

International