Nieuws van de afdeling

2 February 2006

Military adventure won't bring peace to Afghanistan

“In politics there is no greater responsibility than that involved in the sending of military forces to a war zone,” said SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel during the debate over the military mission to Afghanistan. “It's a matter of risking human lives for the benefit of oppressed people. The Netherlands has available well-equipped armed forces capable of achieving this. It's a difficult decision to weigh up.”

1 February 2006

SP questions EU accession for Romania and Bulgaria

The SP today proposed that approval of the treaty admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union be delayed, foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel arguing that it would be “illogical and undesirable to move to ratification at the present time”.

27 January 2006

European military police forerunners of European army

In the opinion of SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer, the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) inaugurated in Italy last Monday will be the forerunner to a soon-to-be-established European army. Mr Meijer was speaking on the European programme of BBC World, broadcast on Saturday and again on Sunday. Also taking part were the French General Philippe Morillon and the British Tory Euro-sceptic Charles Tannock. In addition to this panel discussion involving Members of the European Parliament, the programme outlined the aims of the new European militarised police force which is intended to be in a position to send an 800-strong unit at thirty days' notice to anywhere in the world where trouble flares.

27 January 2006

Palestinian drama: voting under an occupation

SP-senator Tiny Kox was an official observer for the Council of Europe, of whose parliamentary assembly he is a member, at the Palestinian elections held on 25th January 2006. He reports from Palestine.

18 January 2006

European Parliament rejects Ports Services Directive

The European Parliament has rejected the controversial Port Services Directive by a large majority. Opposition to the motion to reject was confined to a section of the centre-right Christian Democrats of the European People's Party (EPP). SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer declared himself to be “delighted” by the outcome, pointing out that “For the second time the EP has voted to oppose this bizarre liberalisation measure. I hope that the European Commission has now understood this message.”

16 January 2006

Erik Meijer: ‘Port Services Directive sinking fast’

The turnout at this afternoon's demonstration of dockworkers in Strasbourg exceeded all expectations. From noon onwards, ten thousand or so dockers from all over Europe, as well as from the United States and Australia, gathered in the city centre in order to join the two hour march to the European Parliament building. SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer participated in the march after taking part in that morning's parliamentary debate on the controversial proposal to liberalise Europe's ports.

International