International

The social democrats and Christian democrats, the centre-left and centre-right blocs which constitute the European Parliament's two biggest groups, today voted to delay until March a vote on a proposal from the European Commission on whether to abolish the requirement that small businesses lodge their annual reports with the Chamber of Commerce. Dennis de Jong, SP European Parliamentary group chair, was critical. "These parties have no sense of urgency. Small businesses have, as a result of the economic crisis, already enough difficulty arranging loans for desperately needed investments. If the annual report isn't accessible more rapidly for, for example, credit insurers, it will become even more difficult for firms to access the necessary credit. This proposal should be rejected as quickly as possible."

“Elections must be held as soon as possible. The electorate will then have the chance to determine where the blame for this crisis should be laid. The choice is between the humane and the social on the one hand and the neoliberal and antisocial on the other.”