Nieuws van de afdeling

8 June 2005

Left Group in European Parliament votes against long-term budget proposals

The United Left Group of 41 Euro-MPs (the GUE/NGL) voted today against the majority's proposed financial framework for 2007-2013. A spokesperson for the group said that “We consider the Commission's proposal itself to be profoundly inadequate in terms of instruments and insufficient in terms of financial means to face the social, economic and environmental challenges of an enlarged EU.”

7 June 2005

Press-statement on the Dutch NO against the European constitution

The overwhelming Dutch NO against the European constitution is a serious ‘wake-up call’ for The Hague, Brussels and as it now seems, London. It’s a wake-up call for Europe: time to stop dreaming, time to get real. Years of ignoring the discontent of the people on the pace of European integration has led to derailment and stagnation of that process. The only way out is to listen to the worries of the people and act accordingly.

4 June 2005

The Netherlands must give some thought to its role in Europe

The 'no' to the European Constitution is a clear signal that European co-operation is proceeding badly. Cooperation in this form is now finished. For this reason, the SP is calling for a national convention to debate the role of the EU in the Netherlands, writes Harry van Bommel, Member of Parliament for the SP.

2 June 2005

Now over to the citizens!

Support is strong for the SP's idea of setting in motion a broad discussion involving people from all walks of life in which citizens and citizens' organisations can get together with politicians to talk about the future of the Netherlands in Europe.

2 June 2005

Kroes thinks Euro-train should just keep rolling on

The ink on the referendum result is hardly dry and yet the European train is already rumbling onwards at full speed. This morning the Netherlands' European Commissioner Neelie Kroes declared that “the Dutch all want to see a free market in services.” Obviously the significance of the Netherlands' No has not sunk in. SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard: “With her blinkers on she's going to get on with forcing through the Bolkestein Directive, a typical reaction from the political elite.”

2 June 2005

A Progressive No

Amongst people who support the three left-of-centre parliamentary parties, as many as 96% of SP supporters, 58% of PvdA (Labour Party) voters and 45% of those who vote for the Green Left were against the proposed European Constitution. The 'No' camp had therefore the clear support of a majority of voters on the left and centre-left.

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