Nieuws van de afdeling

24 May 2009

Three parties back SP call to shun unregistered lobbyists

Candidates of the SP, Labour Party (PvdA), Green Left and the Animals' Party (PvdD) will, if and when they are elected Members of the European Parliament, refuse to meet with lobbyists who have failed to register. SP number one candidate Dennis de Jong asked his counterparts from the eight biggest Dutch parties if they would simply sign a declaration to that effect. Every one of the right-wing and centre-right parties refused to do so.

22 May 2009

Small businesses join SP in protest against Brussels' mania for interference

Today butchers, greengrocers, poulterers, bakers and fishmongers joined the SP in Rotterdam in a protest against the impossible regulations imposed by Brussels. With SP number one candidate Dennis de Jong in attendance, they were there to inform shoppers about just how senseless the rules are. Delicacies were handed out, each labelled in conformity with the absurd rules which the European Union wants to introduce.

21 May 2009

Antilles free trade zones come under scrutiny

Before the summer recess Interior Secretary Ank Bijleveld and Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin will produce a report on the so-called E-zones, the free trade zones (FTZs) to be found on a number of Antillian islands which remain part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The promise was made yesterday to SP Senator Sineke ten Horn during a debate on political relations within the Kingdom. These free trade zones are in reality tax havens. Any corporation claiming establishment within an FTZ, even if this amounts to no more than a post-box, is obliged to pay no more than 2% tax on its profits. Curaçao is the principal beneficiary.

18 May 2009

'Netherlands involved in secret transports of British prisoners'

It has emerged that the air carrier ArkeFly last year left 241 tourists stranded at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport in order to make a more lucrative flight possible. The flight in question was a secret British transport of prisoners suspected of terrorism. This was uncovered by SP member of Parliament Emile Roemer, who is trying to get to the bottom of why the unfortunate passengers have been refused compensation.

17 May 2009

Flying start for SP candidate Jessica van Ruitenburg in Rotterdam election debate

Heated debates are a feature of election campaigns, and Jessica van Ruitenburg, number six on the SP list for the European elections, made a flying start in Rotterdam last Friday when she took part in two of them, back-to-back. Each, however, had very much its own character....

17 May 2009

Milk in Europe

On 29th January 1909 a dozen or so farmers in a pub in the village of Oud-Gastel signed a contract to deliver milk from their herds – a total of two hundred cows – to a newly-established dairy factory. Supply was thereby assured and the factory could begin production.

International