Nieuws van de afdeling

17 April 2007

Carefully separated waste often dumped abroad

Half of transfrontier movements of waste are illegal and a significant proportion is damaging to human health and the environment. These are the conclusions drawn by SP Member of Parliament Remi Poppe and Euro-MP Kartika Liotard from an extensive investigation into the export of waste. “In the Netherlands we separate our waste and pay charges on the most damaging waste to ensure that it doesn't end up in the environment," says Poppe. "It's then up to waste companies not to dump it abroad or have it processed under extremely poor conditions.” The findings of the SP investigation were today passed on to Minister for the Environment Jacqueline Cramer.

11 April 2007

SP Enquiry: Builders hit by unfair competition

Dutch building firms continue to face unfair competition from eastern Europe, despite the improving economy. This was the conclusion of a survey of twenty building contractors conducted by the SP. “It's clear that the complaints remain the same, while many supporters of open borders have said repeatedly that the problems would disappear as a result of the economic recovery'” comments SP Member of Parliament and employment spokesman Paul Ulenbelt. “It makes it obvious that you have to be very careful with policy on admissions and that it would be extremely ill-advised to open the borders any further at this stage.”

7 April 2007

Open borders from May 1st will make existing problems worse

Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Piet Hein Donner is planning to open borders completely to workers from central and eastern Europe from May 1st, scrapping the current system of work permits. “An irresponsible decision,” according to SP Member of Parliament and employment spokesman Paul Ulenbelt. “If you're going to invite guests then you have to make sure your house is in good order,” he says. “And in this case the house is far from being so. Trade unions and the four biggest local authorities have said as much. With my own eyes I've seen how often Polish workers here are confronted with eighteenth century housing conditions, but that just makes Donner keener.” Ulenbelt is seeking an urgent debate on the question with the minister.

4 April 2007

Senate: SP consults other political groups over parliamentary enquiry into Iraq

The SP's Senators will shortly consult Senators from other political groups on the possibility and desirability of holding a parliamentary enquiry into Dutch involvement in the war in Iraq. This was announced, during the debate on the agreement which formed the basis for the new coalition government, by Tiny Kox, who chairs the SP's group in the Senate. Premier Balkenende neither discounted nor encouraged the proposal.

4 April 2007

Van Bommel: Sooner or later there'll be an enquiry into Iraq

An enquiry into the Netherlands' political and military support for the attack on Iraq will happen - sooner or later. So said SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel during today's debate on the position of the Netherlands in relation to the disastrous war.

2 April 2007

SP leader in Greece for book launch

SP leader Jan Marijnissen visited Greece this weekend for the launching of the Greek translation of one of his first books, Enough! A Socialist Bites Back.

International