• 41% of Dutch people have confidence in the EU (compared to 32% EU average)
• 47% of the Dutch trust the Dutch government (compared to 26% EU average)
• 51% of the Dutch assesses the current Dutch economy as “good” (compared to 33% EU average)
• 68% of the Dutch think that the crisis and its impact on unemployment have been achieved (compared to 44% EU average) their peak
• 73% of the Dutch think that the Netherlands has a better future in the EU (compared to 58% EU average)
• 63% of the Dutch is optimistic about the future of the EU (compared to 53% EU average)

                            The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic H.E. Luis Arias Núñez and Head of Missions from  the Central American Integration System (SICA), held a meeting at the Embassy of Honduras in the Netherlands  to discuss different matters of mutual interest.  The Dominican Republic currently holds the pro-tempore Presidency of the SICA, from January until June, 2014. Amongst the Head of Missions attending the meeting were H.E. Mauricio R. Aguilar Robles from Honduras,  H.E.  Jorge Alfredo Lemcke Arevalo from Guatemala, H.E. Vladimiro Villalta Ambassador of El Salvador; H.E. Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; and H.E. Luis Arias, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic. The Central American Integration System (SICA) is the institutional framework of Regional Integration in Central America, founded by  Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.  Belize joined in 2000 as a full member. The Dominican Republic became an associated state in 2004 with full membership in 2013.  

I am deeply troubled and alarmed by disturbing reports of alleged abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno State, Nigeria, and the most recent reports that more schoolgirls have been abducted this week.  Such acts shock the conscience of humanity and could constitute crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”). I share the agonizing pain of the parents of the abducted girls, as well as their hope that the on-going national search and rescue efforts will result in the swift and safe return of their children.  International assistance should be made readily available to bolster such efforts, as required by the national authorities. The troubling phenomenon of targeting females during conflict, this time, in Borno State, cannot be tolerated and must be stopped.  No stone should be left unturned to bring those responsible for such atrocious acts to justice either in Nigeria or at the ICC. I express my solidarity with the families of the abducted girls and the people of Nigeria.  The abducted schoolgirls must be released immediately and allowed to return unharmed to their communities and families. Background The situation in Nigeria has been under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC since 2010.  In August 2013, the Office issued a report concluding that [there is a reasonable basis to believe that] Boko Haram has been committing crimes against humanity of murder and persecution since July 2009. Information gathered by the Office indicates that there has been a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of attacks attributed to Boko Haram since January 2014, including a significant increase in alleged abductions of women and girls and of sexual slavery.  Some of Boko Haram’s alleged crimes would also amount to war crimes, as the Prosecutor has recently concluded that the situation constitutes a non-international armed conflict. As Nigeria is a State Party to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed on the territory of Nigeria or by its nationals from 1 July 2002 onwards. Having concluded that some of the alleged crimes committed in the Nigeria situation fall within subject-matter jurisdiction of the ICC, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently assessing relevant national proceedings in conformity with the principle of complementarity. Under the Rome Statute, the Nigerian authorities have primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes. Such cases may become admissible before the ICC if there are no relevant investigations or prosecutions in Nigeria, or if the national authorities are unwilling or unable to carry out genuine investigations or prosecutions.

European elections 2014

Opposition MPs call on premier to explain ‘quit the euro’ claims

Thursday 08 May 2014 Opposition MPs have called on prime minister Mark Rutte to answer claims he threatened to pull the Netherlands out of the eurozone in 2012. The anti-immigration PVV and the Socialists have called on Rutte to return from holiday to take part in an emergency debate, while GroenLinks have called for a full briefing by midday on Thursday. The claim is made in Wednesday’s Volkskrant and is based on an interview with European Council president Herman van Rompuy about a meeting between the two in 2012. Alexander Pechtold, leader of the pro-EU D66 Liberals, told BNR radio such an outburst ‘was not sensible’, particularly when it was about something as important as the economy and in the presence of such an important European as Van Rompuy. Meeting The meeting at the prime minister’s residence, the Catshuis, took place on June 5 2012 to discuss further European integration and Van Rompuy’s plan for strict contracts between Brussels and the eurozone members on necessary economic reforms. In the interview, Van Rompuy says he was ‘surprised’ at Rutte’s threat to leave the euro if the ‘transfer union’ went ahead. According to the Volkskrant, others who were present were also surprised because for Dutch consumption Rutte was hammering home the message that the euro was vital to the Netherlands’ economy. In doing so, he was reacting to calls from Geert Wilders’ PVV to leave the eurozone and the EU immediately. Walk The Catshuis meeting began with the two men taking a walk in the grounds. Once the lunch began, Rutte became agitated and when Van Rompuy reiterated his plan for more control from Brussels, Rutte answered: ‘If that happens, the Netherlands will leave the euro’, witnesses told the paper. In his interview, Van Rompuy says he has wiped this ‘remarkable’ page from his history with the Dutch prime minister. ‘So much has happened since then that I no longer think of it,’ he told the paper. In a reaction, Rutte denies threatening to leave the euro, but said he did use ‘very strong words’ to make it clear he would torpedo Van Rompuy’s plan with a veto if necessary. – See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/elections/election_news/opposition_mps_call_on_premier.php#sthash.gAquEb0I.dpuf