Nieuws van de afdeling

17 February 2005

Successful demonstration against software patents

Around 300 people from many different European countries demonstrated in Brussels today against the proposed EU directive which would authorise patents on software. A colourful procession of researchers, technicians and (SP) politicians made its way past the various buildings housing the EU’s institutions.

16 February 2005

SP: ‘Major concerns over Kyoto’

The SP European Parliamentary Group has expressed its grave concern regarding the progress of ’Kyoto’, the treaty designed to turn back global warming. SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer has put a number of written questions to the European Commission concerning the treaty’s alarming failure to produce any tangible results, while Mr Meijer’s SP colleague Kartika Liotard was taking part in a meeting of the International Panel on Climate Change on Réunion.

15 February 2005

European Parliament United Left Group to organise hearing on Services Directive

The United Left Group (GUE/NGL), the European Parliamentary political group to which the SP is affiliated, is organising a hearing on the Services Directive to take place on Friday 18th March. Group president Francis Wurtz (France) hopes to see as many people as possible at the hearing, and has issued invitations to activists from social organisations and trade unions.

14 February 2005

Stop US nuclear weapons training in the Wadden

SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen finds the holding of ‘Nuclear Strike’ exercises on the Wadden Islands unacceptable and is demanding that the government put an immediate end to co-operation with any such exercises. A US research group has found that by 1994 two operational bases offering training in the use of nuclear weapons already existed on the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. The SP wants to know whether these bases remain operational and is demanding an end be put to any possibility of co-operation in exercises involving the use of weapons of mass destruction.

10 February 2005

Security Council must take action against US and the Netherlands

Condoleezza Rice is demanding that the UN Security Council take action to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen has proposed that in that case it should at the same time move against the US and the Netherlands.

10 February 2005

Important victory in struggle against software patents

The SP yesterday scored an important victory in the battle to stop what have become known as frivolous or trivial patents. By 71 votes to 69, a motion proposed by SP Member of Parliament Arda Gerkens was adopted. The motion called on the secretary of state to oppose a vote on the proposed directive at the EU Council of Ministers until it is clear that the matter will be sent back to the Commission for reconsideration and the legislative procedure begun anew.

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