International

Employees have started campaigning, ahead of the strike in hospitals.  For some time, the SP has been making efforts to ensure that healthcare providers get 'more than applause'. Our healthcare has been turned into a market, with profits to be made from healthcare money. Hospitals can even go bankrupt while they provide basic service for people. Healthcare has long suffered from bureaucracy, competition and increased workloads, while salaries lag behind. Healthcare providers do not take action lightly; things really need to change.

SP Provincial Council groups in every province are calling for energy supply to be put back into provincial hands. In Groningen a proposal to this end was adopted by a majority of the Council last night. In Utrecht this happened at the beginning of this month.

A growing number of people cannot pay their energy bills. About 2,000 people came to the People's Protest on Beursplein in Amsterdam. This symbolic place, near the stock exchange, was where they made it clear that our energy should not be on the market and that energy company profits should not go to shareholders but should be used to lower energy bills.

A Politico report shows that there are few rules for EU chairmanships on taking gifts from companies. The chairmanship rotates among European countries every six months. Sweden is the current chairman and it is precisely there that doors open wide for companies to 'sponsor' events. In practice, this sponsorship means companies give drinks, cars and cash.

Support for an ad hoc tribunal to try those responsible for the war against Ukraine is good news. But quick action is called for. The proposal to set up an ad hoc tribunal to provide trial for the 'crime of aggression' was first made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe last year. International law, blatantly violated in the illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, already provides for the prosecution and trial of most crimes related to this war.

SP senator Tiny Kox is elected for a second term as the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Kox received 175 of the 223 votes cast and managed to be elected for the second time with a large majority of votes.

At the annual SP Peace Day in Amersfoort, experts talked about war and peace in Europe. Led by SP MP Jasper van Dijk, a variety of speakers talked about the war in Ukraine, opportunities for peace in Europe, human rights and multilateralism.

The war in Ukraine rages on and is claiming many victims. Nevertheless, one day there will be a cessation of hostilities. How should the International Rule of Law proceed after that? What are the chances for a new European security order? 

Almost half of all Dutch people are turning the heating down or even turning it off altogether, even as temperatures outside are plummeting. Many people face financial difficulties because of increased costs. The SP believes there should be compensation for households, but the current price cap is not the solution. For this reason, SP MP Renske Leijten is putting forward proposals to organise compensation in a fair way.