International

A newly-published report from Transparency International has revealed that a large number of EU member states have slid further down the annual global index of corruption. Culprits include Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, while countries such as Rwanda, Ghana and South Africa have shown improvement. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong describes the findings as "unacceptable", adding that he wants to see "an action plan from the European Commission against corruption within the EU. The Commission must also step up monitoring of these countries when it comes to the spending of European subsidies."

SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong has described his response to the European Commission's new political line regarding the internal market as 'enthusiastic'. "The Commission says that the internal market must be given a social face. From now on the public rather than the big corporations must be given centre stage. Workers' rights must be secured and strengthened and the interests of small and medium-sized firms better served. Criticisms which the SP has long had regarding the functioning of the internal market have now been embraced by the Commission."