Nieuws van de afdeling

30 November 2007

Labour's two faces: against weakening unfair dismissal rights in The Hague, in favour of it in Strasbourg

Employment Minister Piet Hein Donner, whose plan for so-called 'liberalisation' of national laws protecting workers from unfair dismissal was recently rejected in parliament, must now reject similar plans brought forward under the European Commission's 'flexicurity' programme, designed to make the labour market more 'flexible'. SP Member of Parliament and employment spokesman Paul Ulenbelt, in calling on Donner to reflect the will of the Dutch people's elected representatives when he represents the country in the EU's Council of Ministers, insists that a law thrown out by parliament must not be allowed to sneak in through the back door via European Union legislation.

26 November 2007

Trade agreements: "disguised recolonisation of developing countries"

SP Member of Parliament and development policy spokesman Ewout Irrgang has asked the government to call a halt to the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which the European Union is seeking to conclude with the former colonies of its member states. The FTAs, which the EU wants signed before the end of the year, will be devastating for the economies of these countries, Irrgang argues.

24 November 2007

SP National Congress: “strengthen the foundations”

Socialist Party, now biggest opposition group, prepares for government

19 November 2007

Netherlands must act against hunting of protected whales

Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen must summon the new Japanese ambassador to protest against his country's stepping up of whale hunting, says SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen. Under the guise of 'scientific research', Japan is to resume hunting of the seriously endangered humpback whale.

16 November 2007

Refusal of access to OSCE election observers shows Russia's true face

“By refusing observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) access to parliamentary elections scheduled for 2nd December, Russia is revealing its true, undemocratic face," says SP Member of Parliament and foreign affairs specialist Harry van Bommel. Van Bommel would have been a participant in an OSCE mission which the organisation has now cancelled under pressure from the Russians.

16 November 2007

Alleged torture of terror suspects by CIA: Van Bommel demands explanation

SP Member of Parliament and foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel is demanding an explanation from the government regarding reports that in 2003 in Egypt the US Central Intelligence Agency were responsible for a suspected terrorist being subjected to torture. Information extracted through this torture was used by the United States as one pretext for the invasion of Iraq, which was supported by the Dutch government.

International