Nieuws van de afdeling

17 February 2006

Labour Party blocks Parliament's resistance to EU interference in criminal law

The PvdA (Labour Party) is supporting the government in its decision to permit more EU influence on Dutch criminal law. The social democrats refused to back an SP motion to put pressure on the cabinet to resist such interference, despite the fact that the resolution was supported by the parliamentary groups of the VVD (right wing market liberals) and D66 (centrist liberals), two members of the three-party governing coalition. "This is just the same as supporting the European Constitution, which was rejected by the Dutch people on 1st June,” declared SP member of Parliament Jan de Wit, who presented the motion.

16 February 2006

‘Christian Democrats and Labour Party have doubts over open borders’

The Christian Democrats of the CDA, and the PvdA (Labour Party), who together form a majority in the lower house of the Dutch Parliament, are beginning to have doubts about the further opening of borders to workers from eastern Europe. Describing the change of heart as "superfluous", SP Member of Parliament Jan De Wit pointed out that "the report commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs from research bureau Ecorys should settle the matter."

16 February 2006

SP calls for emergency fund for West African cotton farmers

During today’s debate on the outcome and likely results of the WTO’s Doha Round, SP Member of Parliament Ewout Irrgang called for the establishment of an emergency fund to compensate West African farmers for the fall in the price of cotton.

16 February 2006

Services Directive a heavy blow for hopes of a 'social Europe'

The European Parliament today voted by 391 votes to 213 in favour of the Services Directive, a vote which represents a new low-point in European history. Even the somewhat diluted proposal which today found the support of a majority will set in motion a downwards spiral. Reacting to the vote, SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard said, “Not for the first time those who are supposed to represent the peoples of Europe have failed to do so. But the fight goes on, and in the Netherlands we must put the government under pressure not to accept this liberalisation.”

15 February 2006

Netherlands accessory to secret CIA flights

According to SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel, the Netherlands is an accessory to the secret transport of CIA prisoners. Mr Van Bommel came to this conclusion on the basis of flight data gathered by the Ministry of Transport which have been made public as a result of the 'WOB' procedure, the Dutch equivalent of the Freedom of Information law. Human Rights Watch has identified flights whose existence is revealed in these data as involving the illegal transport of suspected terrorists. “The Netherlands is not only guilty of the secret transport of these suspects but at the same time of being the dogsbody of the US, which is acting in breach of international law.”

14 February 2006

Tens of thousands demonstrate against Bolkestein’s Services Directive

In front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, tens of thousands demonstrated against the so-called Services Directive originally brought forward by now ex-European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein. Amongst them could be found a delegation of SP members, including Harry van Bommel, MP and Euro-MPs Erik Meijer and Kartika Liotard. The number of demonstrators exceeded all expectations.

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