Nieuws van de afdeling

7 May 2010

MEPs from SP, Green Left and D66 welcome approval of Baltic Pride

Euro-MPs from the SP, the Green Left and the centrist liberal D66 party have expressed their delight over the decision to give the go-ahead to Baltic Pride. Yesterday in Lithuania permission had been withheld for Baltic Pride, a demonstration by gays, lesbians and transsexuals. The reason given was the expectation of disorder brought about by counter-demonstrations. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong, shared the disquiet felt by MEPs from the Green Left and D66 over this ruling, pointing to the fact that under international law the Lithuanian government had a responsibility to protect participants in Baltic Pride. In the Baltic states brave men and women are forced to stand up for their right not to be discriminated against and should be able to count on the protection of the government, the MEPs contend.

7 May 2010

European Commission 'misunderstands nature of home care'

“Home care is health care and not an economic activity. The European Commission's advice is to see home care as commercial, a misunderstanding of its value." This was SP Member of Parliament Renske Leijten's reaction to a letter from the European Commission on the issue of putting home care – the equivalent of Britain's home help service – out to tender. "They obviously understanding nothing about the nature of home care," said Leijten. "Happily, it's only an advice note and not a ruling."

6 May 2010

The European Citizens' Initiative – a few comments

In the past the SP campaigned actively against the European Constitution and the 'Constitution lite', the Lisbon Treaty. We had and continue to have problems with sections of the Treaty, such as for example the potential it offers for the militarisation of Europe. We are, nevertheless, realistic: the Treaty is here and for the time being it won't be going anywhere. And so we will be making proposals for how the Treaty might be used, and doing what we can to resist the putting into practice of what we see as its worst aspects.

5 May 2010

'Peacekeeping can be conducted without bombers and warships'

Harry van Bommel was today one of tens of thousands of people who attended the Liberation Festival in Wageningen, marking the end of the Nazi occupation on May 5th, 1945. He took part with Green Left MP Femke Halsema and others in a political debate on freedom and the role of the Dutch armed forces. Van Bommel argued that cuts in the defence budget would not mean that the defence department could not continue to play an important role in matters of peace and security. "The Netherlands should be making savings on the offensive parts of the armed forces," Van |Bommel said. "We should not be purchasing new fighter planes, and we could also get rid of part of the navy. You don't need bombers and warships for peacekeeping tasks." These views were the opposite of those expressed by outgoing Christian Democrat Secretary of State Jack de Vries, who wants to exclude the defence budget from the coming round of cuts.

5 May 2010

De Jong: ‘Make the EU more democratic and more social’

‘You're establishing unchangeable rules for the social and economic future of our country, without giving the Dutch electorate the chance to express their views at the elections on June 9th.' So said Dennis de Jong, chair of the SP group in the European Parliament, confronting European Commission President Jose Barroso on Wednesday with the SP's views on the Commission's strategic plan ‘Europa 2020’.

5 May 2010

SP: 'EU must put a stop to use of cyanide in mining'

“It's taking too long to ban cyanide in the mining of gold. It's a menace to our waters and biodiversity. Its use must stop forthwith." So says SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard, one of the movers of a resolution aimed at getting the European Commission to introduce a ban on the use of cyanide in all mining operations.

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