Nieuws van de afdeling

8 May 2008

Rich Antillans let their poorer compatriots rot

Solidarity seems a rare commodity in the Dutch Antilles. The Antilles has both deep poverty and extreme wealth. The islands' multimillionaires pay almost no tax and thus make no contribution to their society's improvement. The major islands of Curaçao and St Martin are seeking more independence and have hopes that the Netherlands will take over their debts of €2.2 billion. The SP can give no support to these ambitions as long as the rich of the Antilles are willing to let their poorer compatriots rot.

8 May 2008

Latest attempts to tackle Brussels lobbying practices 'barely half a step forward'

‘It's a pity that the rules adopted today won't really do anything about the undesirable practices of Brussels lobbyists. Okay, we voted for the proposals, but only because doing nothing would have been even worse. The European Parliament's decision on this, however, means at best half a step forward.'

7 May 2008

Van Bommel: ‘Time for the Netherlands to apologise for slavery in Surinam'

SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel is to ask Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende to offer his apologies to the Surinamese people for the Netherlands' history of slavery in the country. The SP's spokesman on foreign affairs is urging the Premier to use the occasion of his forthcoming visit to do this, 145 years after the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies. To date, no such apology has ever been officially offered to Surinam.

6 May 2008

Senate unanimous in calling for more support for Council of Europe

A unanimous Senate today instructed Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and Secretary of State Frans Timmermans to provide additional financial support to the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe provides a forum within which forty-seven European countries can work together to improve democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

24 April 2008

Van Bommel: No EU subsidy for chicken ads

The SP has asked for clarification regarding the fact that European subsidies have been used to promote the consumption of chicken. SP European affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel wants to know "are our tax moneys going on this?" adding that "the European Union wasn't set up to urge people to eat chicken. This nonsense must stop."

24 April 2008

Minister promises SP action on extradition treaty with Brazil

Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin will take the necessary steps to ensure that in the near future an extradition treaty is signed between Brazil and the Netherlands. The minister made this commitment in response to calls from SP Member of Parliament Arda Gerkens. Such a treaty would mean that the Netherlands could extradite two men who have been convicted of offences connected to child pornography.

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