International

The SP is urging external trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström to pay immediate attention to the request from five environmentalist organisations to be allowed to see negotiating texts relating to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the proposed free trade treaty with the United States. The NGOs have lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsman, referring in this to the 2001 Treaty of Aarhus, which guaranteed to the public the right to be involved in decision-making on environmental legislation. In the SP’s view, this complaint should not have been necessary.

The European Parliament has commenced consideration of a European Commission proposal on the protection of company secrets. In the SP’s view, this is an unnecessary and dangerous measure, as Euro-MP Dennis de Jong explains: ‘In public consultations 75% of respondents were against, but the Commission is stubbornly sticking to its ideas. They are trying to improve protection of company secrets, not only against commercial misuse, but also by restricting access to such information on the part of national authorities, whistle-blowers and investigative journalists. There simply isn’t any need for a proposal of this kind.’

The election result in Greece demonstrates unequivocally that voters are seeking alternatives to the heavy-handed austerity policies imposed by Brussels. The European Union’s neoliberal course forces the public to foot the bill for a crisis which they did not bring about, and which merely increases tensions between north and south. Syriza’s victory should give cause for all European politicians to consider a different financial and economic policy in the EU, argue Harry van Bommel and Arnold Merkies.

Speaking against the prolongation of the denial of voting rights to Russia, SP Senator Tiny Kox, president of the United Left Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said, 'The renewed suspension of Russia’s voting rights, and the consequent breaking by Russia of remaining relations with the parliaments of forty-six other European states, has brought a Cold War closer. I sorely regret the fact that Europe’s biggest platform for parliamentary diplomacy has allowed itself to be dragged along in the call for stiffer sanctions. These simply make relations with Russia more wretched and a solution to the civil war in Ukraine even more difficult. Parliamentarians who go along with this bear a heavy responsibility. I’m pleased that in the name of the Left Group in the Assembly I have been able to oppose this unnecessary and dangerous performance.’

On Friday 23 January SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong, together with staffer Bart Linssen, paid a working visit to the Eurotunnel complex in Calais. Although the situation in Calais is alarming, new facilities have been built for trucks, and from the end of this year drivers will be able to count on complete checks being carried out on the French side, should they wish to have such a check carried out. This will mean that they no longer need worry about stowaways and the fines imposed when they are detected.

With Syriza’s inspiring victory, hope has won over despair. In Greece, but also in the rest of Europe.

Foto: SP

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras

Greeks who want to see an end to austerity were, as election day dawned, hopeful and cynical in equal measure. Left party Syriza are heading for victory, despite a tough campaign to make Greeks afraid of the change for which they stand.

A report on the visit of SP leader Emile Roemer, General Secretary Hans van Heijningen, and former SP Senator Kees Slager to the United States.

Foto: SP

Emile Roemer and Hans van Heijningen in New York City

The European Central Bank (ECB) is at last showing the courage to buy up EU member states’ bonds after years of having cold feet. SP Member of Parliament Arnold Merkies is positive about the ECB’s decision, but argues that the Bank must do all in its power to ensure that the money goes straight into the real economy and not into bubbles in the financial markets.