Netherlands might revoke their vote.

Posted Jun 8, 2004 21:26 UTC (Tue) by dmantione (guest, #4640)
Parent article: An activism update from Europe

Something interresting is happening in .nl. Members of the NL-parliament did
take notice of demonstrations in Den Haag just before minister Brinkhorst did
vote yes. However they did investigate the matter just after (there was only
working day between demonstration and sign day) the Netherlands had voted
yes.

The minister had informed the NL-parliament that there was no disagreement
between the EU-parliament and the comission in a letter and he would
therefore vote yes.

This was however far from the truth and now the NL-parliament is kind of
pissed off. The situation is ongoing at the moment. The minister has informed
that he had written the situation as it was to his knowledge. Obviously he was
a "little bit" mistaken.

It looks like the parliament will not aim for his head though (misinforming the
parliament is considered the worst mistake a minister can make and often costs
them there jobs), but there seems to be a majority to force the minister to
revoke his vote.

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Netherlands might revoke their vote.

Posted Jun 9, 2004 7:09 UTC (Wed) by bbencic (guest, #9213) [Link] (3 responses)

What does that mean ? That NL will try to change the vote they did during
the May-session ? Is that allowed ?

If that is possible what will be the impact on the vote of the directive ?

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

Posted Jun 9, 2004 11:09 UTC (Wed) by dmantione (guest, #4640) [Link]

I'm not really at home in the exact procedures of the EU, but what I read it is
still possible to change the vote and parliament is aiming at it.

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

Posted Jun 9, 2004 18:37 UTC (Wed) by jeroen (guest, #12372) [Link] (1 responses)

The council position will probably not be adopted before september, the translation is behind schedule because of a shortage of translators, especially for the languages of the newly joined countries. The text has to be translated in every language before it can be adopted.

Every country can still change their vote in the council, although as far as we know it has never happened that a previous agreed on issue wasn't officially adopted later. The Dutch vote alone is not enough to do prevent the adoption, but it might set an example for other countries. If for example Germany or Poland change their vote too there isn't a qualified majority anymore. A few of the smaller countries will also do the job.

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

Posted Jun 10, 2004 7:26 UTC (Thu) by bbencic (guest, #9213) [Link]

I have read on the ffii website that Poland wasn't for the directive but
as a qualified majority was reached before they could vote, something happened and their vote was considered as 'for the directive'

more info on http://kwiki.ffii.org/?Pietras040520En

If Netherlands and Poland change their vote this could change everything.
But, I do not think this will happen.