Nieuws van de afdeling

2 June 2009

European Jobseekers

Frits Bolkestein, of the right-wing Liberal party, the VVD, admitted it in a straightforward and open fashion. It was his life's ambition to become a European Commissioner, an ambition which he fulfilled. With the formation in 1998 of the second 'Purple' government – so-called because it mixed the red of Labour with the blue of the 'Liberal' VVD - he insisted that he be appointed the Netherlands' European Commissioner. In post, he devised the Services Directive, also known as the Bolkestein Directive. As a result of this measure, service providers from all over Europe can compete with each other in a race to the bottom over working conditions.

30 May 2009

De Jong attacks governing Christian Democrats' views on labour migration

“Totally a-social" was SP number one candidate Dennis de Jong's description of the statement on labour migration by Wim van de Camp of the Christian Democrat CDA. Van de Camp's statement came during a debate between leading candidates which took place last Thursday in Leiden. Van de Camp described himself as "hesitant" about labour migration, but had no problem in wanting to attract workers in cases where firms had need of them. De Jong replied that "We bring people here when we need them, but treat developing countries badly by dumping our food surpluses on them." This policy, he said, leads to ruinous competition for farmers in Africa.

30 May 2009

The Netherlands wants less Brussels: Hands off the dockworker!

Dockers want less Brussels and, what's more, they have seen their wish come true. Mass, sustained resistance to the liberalisation of dock work led in 2006 to the European Parliament voting down the EU's neoliberal Ports Services Directive – a victory for the SP, the dockworkers and the labour movement.

29 May 2009

Council of Europe calls for total ban on cluster bombs

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is calling for a total ban on the production and use of cluster bombs. A resolution to that effect won the unanimous support of parliamentarians from forty-seven member states gathered in Strasbourg. Even the Russian delegation voted in favour, despite the refusal to date of the Russian government to sign the convention banning cluster weaponry. SP Senator Tiny Kox, chair of the United European Left (GUE) in PACE, believes that a breakthrough is now possible in the struggle for a worldwide ban.

29 May 2009

Asylum seekers forced to live in tents by government mismanagement

The fact that asylum seekers have to be accommodated in tents is the result of mismanagement by the Secretary of State for Justice Nebahat Albayrak, according to SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen. "There are thousands fewer asylum seekers arriving than she predicted," says Van Velzen, "and yet people have to sleep in tents."

29 May 2009

Half of EU budget could be scrapped

Half of the EU budget could be scrapped if no more money were spent on agriculture or on regional development in rich member states and if development cooperation returned to being organised nationally. These are some of the points in an economy plan presented today by SP lead candidate Dennis de Jong. "The Netherlands' contribution to the EU could in this way be reduced by €2.5 billion per year," says De Jong.

International