Nieuws van de afdeling

10 July 2005

Luxembourg's ‘yo’ is Constitution's last twitch

Today, 56,5% of Luxembourg's electorate of 223.000 voted in favour of the European Constitution, a 'yo' which hardly comes as a surprise. On the other hand, the fact that the majority was so paltry is remarkable. Commenting on the result, SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel said, “The European Constitution was dead and it's still dead. It has not been reincarnated in Luxembourg.”

8 July 2005

G8 Summit A Missed Chance

The SP is disappointed by the outcome of the G8 summit held in Gleneagles in Scotland over the last few days. According the the party's MP Harry van Bommel, it represents a missed opportunity: “After last weekend's overwhelming concerts I had hoped that the G8 leaders would have the feeling that millions of people were looking over their shoulders, but this doesn't appear to have sunk in.”

6 July 2005

Rejection of software patents represents a double victory

Today's rejection by the European Parliament of the directive providing for patents on software represents a double victory for the SP. Not only is it to be welcomed because of the undesirability of the directive itself, but also because of the fact that the vote is deserved punishment for the undemocratic and disrespectful working methods of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

5 July 2005

European Parliament hypocritical over euro

“The euro is the most successful European project ever and should take precedence in the EU's information provision.” “It is of importance to use modern marketing techniques to sell the euro to the public as an attractive package.” These absurd viewpoints are taken from the Maaten Report on the EU's communication strategy as it concerns the euro, adopted today by the European Parliament (EP). In the SP's opinion, the Europhiles are once again planning to launch a money-wasting propaganda campaign, comparable to the government's campaign in favour of the proposed EU constitution.

1 July 2005

Dutch lorry drivers’ conditions under pressure from EU

The free movement of persons and the ever increasing liberalisation of the European market is leading to the displacement of Dutch lorry drivers and the exploitation of their colleagues from other countries. Unfair competition, in particular from Polish drivers, has driven many firms out of business. SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer wants to know what the European Commission plans to do about this unacceptable situation.

28 June 2005

Liotard: ‘Italian reception of refugees is brutal'

SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard is astonished and shocked by the degrading situation which she encountered in the refugee camp on the Italian island of Lampedusa: “There are no human rights here. This has nothing whatsoever to do with any sort of humane reception.”

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