Nieuws van de afdeling

19 March 2009

SP: We need a total ban on seal fur in EU

The SP is demanding a complete ban on trade in seal fur. Kartika Liotard, Member of the European Parliament, used a meeting of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Brussels on Tuesday to call on other parties to support the proposal. Demonstrating in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, IFAW showed videos of new-born seals which, within a month, will be the target of commercial hunters.

18 March 2009

Labour Party to play key role in EU-driven liberalisation of postal sector

“I can't believe that the Labour Party is going to vote in favour of the liberalisation of the postal market and thus ensure that 26,000 employees will suffer a wage cut of 15%.” With this challenging remark SP Senator Tuur Elzinga opened his contribution to the debate on the new postal law, which will be voted on next week. To reach the Chamber prior to the debate, Senators had to pass demonstrators from 'Red de Postbode' (“Save the Post(wo)man”) at the entrance to the building.

18 March 2009

SP: 'Members of Parliament must be invited to Afghanistan Conference'

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence must be able to attend the forthcoming international conference on Afghanistan as observers, according to SP defence spokesman Harry van Bommel. The conference will take place in The Hague on 31st March.

18 March 2009

Keep debating about NATO and Eastern European troubles

NATO needs a political debate about its future. This should be a debate about the strategic concept of NATO trying to reshape the organization in such a way that it can fulfil its genuine role in international relations, according to Harry van Bommel, an MP from the opposition Socialist Party in the Parliament of the Netherlands. He was speaking to BTA, the Bulgarian News Agency in anticipation of the publication of his book on NATO later in March and a NATO Summit in Strasbourg/Kehl in April which is expected to decide, among other things, on the name of the new Secretary General of the Alliance.

13 March 2009

Irrgang welcomes freeing of Burundi opposition leader

SP Member of Parliament Ewout Irrgang says he is "very pleased" by the freeing of the Burundian journalist and opposition leader Alexis Sinduhije. In Irrgang's view, this is a sign that the international community can successfully exercise pressure on dubious regimes.

12 March 2009

It's official! EU expert groups are impartial

When it comes to the development of new EU policies, expert groups are important sources of information. But who takes part in these groups, and whose interests are they serving? Members of expert groups are specialists who may be on the payroll of a commercial corporation. By being invited to take part, the employee in question not only gains prestige and information, but his or her work is also of great importance to the employer, with the person in question becoming both an eavesdropper and an ambassador for the company. In an EU expert group, information may be gathered which is of great value to the company, and contacts made which are also of importance to the firm. For this reason, making it possible for one of your employees to participate in an EU expert group will provide you with strategic inside information regarding forthcoming developments in EU policy and the dangers or opportunities which these may present.

International