Nieuws van de afdeling

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.

12 January 2006

Conference on Services Directive yields encouraging results

SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard, who chaired the conference on the Services Directive held today at the European Parliament, welcomed guests from every single member states of the European Union, as well as Norway and Iceland. National parliamentarians, members of regional parliaments and other elected bodies, as well as representatives of social organisation and trade unions were included among the guests.

4 January 2006

12th January; International Conference on Services Directive

On Thursday 12 January the United Left Group of the European Parliament (GUE/NGL), the political group of which the SP is the Dutch section, is organising a major international conference on the Services Directive, the measure instigated by former European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein. Representatives of political and social organisations and trade unions from twenty-seven countries will gather for the conference, which takes place in Brussels.

4 January 2006

Once again, stranded passengers offered nothing but fine words

For almost a year passengers affected by delays, overbooking or cancellations of flights on which they have booked have had the rights to a reasonable amount of compensation. Yet in blatant disregard of this right, the great majority are being fobbed off with a bunch of flowers. SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer is asking the European Commission to take its own rules seriously and ensure that they are respected and applied.

International