22nd SESSION

CG(22)19

22 March 2012

Call for appropriate reaction of Dutch Government regarding the launching of the PVV (Freedom Party) website

Motion for a resolution

Tabled by Ludmila SFIRLOAGA, Romania (R, SOC) and the undersigned[i]:

Onno VAN VELDHUIZEN, Netherlands (L, ILDG)

Günther KRUG, Germany (R, SOC)

Jos WIENEN, Netherlands (L, EPP/CD)

Johan VAN DEN HOUT, Netherlands (R, NR)

Helena Pihlajasaari, Finland (R, SOC)

Leen VERBECK, Netherlands (R, SOC)

Mihkel JUHKAMI, Estonia (L, EPP/CD)

Sandra BARNES, United Kigdom (L, NR)

David SHAKESPEARE, United Kingdom (R, NR)

Halvdan SKARD, Norway (L, SOC)

John WARMISHAM, United Kingdom (L, SOC)

Dusica DAVIDOVIC, Serbia (R, NR)

Dario GHISLETTA, Switzerland (L, SOC)

Lars O. MOLIN, Sweden (L, EPP/CD)

Bruno MARZIANO, Italy (R, SOC)

Emilio VERRENGIA, Italy (L, EPP/CD)

Devrim CUKUR, Turkey (R, SOC)

Amy KOOPMANSCHAP, Netherlands (L, SOC)

Luzette WAGENAAR, Netherlands (L, EPP/CD)

Dubravka SUICA, Croatia (L, EPP/CD)

Samira ALIYEVA, Azerbaijan (L, SOC)

Alexandru AMBROS, Republic of Moldova (L, ILDG)

György ILLES, Hungary (L, ILDG)

Artur TORRES PEREIRA, Portugal ( L, EPP/CD)

Hana RICHTERMOCOVA, Czech Republic (L, ILDG)

Julia COSTA, Portugal (L, EPP/CD)

Grigore COBZAC, Republic of Moldova (R, ILDG)

Johannes PEINSTEINER, Austria (L, EPP/CD)

Hanna MARVA, Finland (R, EPP/CD)

Mara JUZUPA, Latvia (R, ILDG)

Evanthia CHRYSANTHOU, Cyprus (R, NR)

Anders KNAPE, Sweden (L, EPP/CD)

Urs WÜTHRICH-PELLOLI, Switzerland (R, SOC)

Gabriele NEFF, Germany (L, ILDG)

Peter SCHOWTKA, Germany (R, EPP/CD)

Johan SAUWENS, Belgium (R, EPP/CD)

Imre SZIRBIK, Hungary (R, SOC)

Gudrun MOSLER-TÖRNSTRÖM, Austria (R, SOC)

Daniela RUSEVA, Bulgaria (L, ILDG)

Taner ALI, Bulgaria (R, ILDG)

Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, Belgium (R, SOC)

William CAREY, Ireland (R, EPP/CD)

Pavol SEDLACEK, Slovak Republic (R, EPP/CD)

Oddleif OLAVSEN, Norway (R, EPP/CD)

Michael O’BRIEN, Ireland (R, SOC)

Tracey SIMPSON-LAING, United Kingdom (R, SOC)

Radu TIRLE, Romania (R, ILDG)

David HEATLEY, United Kingdom (R, NR)

Sari YLIPULLI, Finland (R, NR)

Ilham KHALILOV, Azerbaijan (L, EPP/CD)

Andrée BUCHMANN, France (R, SOC)

Sinisa LAZIC, Serbia (L, SOC)

Minodora-Susana LUCA, Romania (L, EPP/CD)

Lucyna ANDRYSIAK, Poland (R, SOC)

Grigore POLICINSCHI, Republic of Moldova (R, SOC)

Bert BISCOE, United Kingdom (L, ILDG)

Tatiana BADAN, Republic of Moldova (L, ILDG)

Eleonora GRAUR, Republic of Moldova (L, ILDG)

Herwig VAN STAA, Austria (R, EPP/CD)

Emil CALOTA, Romania (L, SOC)

Angelo MUZIO, Italy (L, SOC)

Gaye DOGANOGLU, Turkey (L, EPP/CD)

Zdenek BROZ, Czech Republic (L, ILDG)

Francis LEC, France (L, SOC)

Georg SPARTANSKI, Bulgaria (L, EPP/CD)

1.         Recent developments in various European countries raise concern with regard to treatment and attitudes towards migrants, foreign residents, and other groups that are often targeted by extremist and xenophobic discourse. The Council of Europe – through its Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – has constantly denounced and condemned these phenomena, as they are against our fundamental values which promote diversity, tolerance and understanding.

2.         In times of economic crisis, such negative attitudes may trigger extremist acts in particular local communities, where a significant number of migrants live and work.

3.         The Congress is concerned with the launch of the website of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), whereby one is encouraged to report complaints arising from the ‘massive labour migration’ of ‘Central or Eastern European citizens living and working in the Netherlands. This initiative stimulates negative perception of a particular group, and is discriminatory and degrading in intention and purpose. Well-acknowledged analyses demonstrate that migrants and guest-workers contribute significantly to the economic growth of the host country. This is also true for the Netherlands, which benefited greatly from labour mobility in Europe.

4.         The Congress is equally concerned with the insufficient reaction of the Dutch Government represented by its Prime Minister, which bears responsibility for ensuring a healthy environment in the public sphere, protected from racism and discrimination.

5.         The Congress reiterates the fact that the Council of Europe is built upon the values of human rights, rule of law and democracy, which its members undertook to promote and protect, and recalls its recent relevant documents pertaining to greater integration and participation of foreign residents in local public life.

6.         The Congress:

a. emphasises that migrants and guest workers contribute to the economic welfare of their host societies, and their labour has a particular impact at local level in the communities where they live and work;

b. condemns the launch of the website of the PVV, considering it ill-intentioned and threatening to any society that cherishes human rights, pluralism, justice, solidarity, and non-discrimination;

c. calls on mainstream political parties and responsible Dutch politicians to explicitly distance themselves from this initiative;

d. undertakes to analyse closer threats posed by extremist and xenophobic attitudes to good governance at local level;

e. asks the Bureau to communicate this call of the Congress.