MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on discriminatory internet sites and government reactions (2012/2554(RSP))

12.3.2012

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Peter van Dalen, Timothy Kirkhope, Paweł Robert Kowal, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Roberts Zīle, Jan Zahradil, Janusz Wojciechowski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0152/2012

B7‑0157/2012

European Parliament resolution on discriminatory internet sites and government reactions (2012/2554(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the online hotline launched by the Dutch PVV party on 8 February 2012,

–   having regard to Commissioner Reding’s statement of 11 February 2012 on the PVV’s website,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas on 8 February 2012 the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV/Partij voor de Vrijheid) launched an online hotline whereby citizens can report negative experiences with and disturbances such as job losses caused by Central and Eastern European (CEE) citizens;

B.  whereas this hotline is not a government initiative, but a private initiative by the PVV;

C. whereas the launch of this hotline sparked a fierce debate in the Netherlands and many political parties, the media, SME and other company leaders, civil society leaders and individual citizens have condemned the PVV initiative; whereas many counter-initiatives have been launched, such as a website to report positive experiences with Polish people;

D. whereas there is currently no official position of the Dutch Government regarding the PVV hotline;

E.  whereas the PVV hotline also caused a stir in the international media and other fora, with many condemning the website;

1.  Condemns the PVV online hotline and strongly disagrees with the chosen method and the signal it sends to CEE citizens living and working in the Netherlands;

2.  Calls on the Dutch Government to distance itself from this hotline in clear and unequivocal terms; considers that this is all the more pertinent since the hotline is an initiative from a party that provides the Dutch Government with parliamentary support;

3.  Recognises the manifold and important positive contributions of CEE countries and their citizens throughout history as well as today, in the Netherlands and the European Union as a whole;

4.  Affirms its adherence to the acquis communautaire, including free movement of workers and freedom of expression;

5.  Takes the view that too much attention has already been given to an initiative which is clearly not worthy of it;

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.