The coalition parties are divided over the billion-dollar setback facing the development cooperation budget. According to the spring memorandum, Liesje Schreinemacher’s ministry is to contribute more than 3.4 billion euros to asylum provision in the Netherlands up to and including 2026.
D66 and ChristenUnie disagree with this. If it gets that high, it’s “unacceptable,” Alexander Hammelburg (D66) told the House of Representatives. Stieneke van der Graaf (ChristenUnie), like D66, wants emergency aid and current programs spared.
Discipline
In the coalition agreement it was agreed that the reception of first year asylum seekers will be paid for by Schreinemacher. This has been the system for many years. VVD member Jan Klink sticks to the coalition agreement. Budgetary discipline also needs to be restored, he said. He also believes that the topic belongs to the spring memorandum debate.
Bart van den Brink (CDA) said that controlling migration is the only solution to the problem. He does not want to comment on the possible consequences of the setbacks until Minister Schreinemacher sets out his plans for him.
‘Ate’
The opposition parties PvdA and GroenLinks find it unacceptable that the aid budget is “used up”, said Joris Thijssen (PvdA). He wants a maximum for the amount that can go from development cooperation to the reception of asylum seekers. The PSC feels the same way too.
The minister wants to dispel the unrest among humanitarian organizations. He therefore wants to comply as much as possible with the legal relief for the current year. “I will do my best.” Schreinemacher calls the setback “painful” but says he supports the government’s decision. At Prinsjesdag he will announce how he will handle setbacks in his budget.
Cash register
It’s possible that part of the $1 billion setback will be offset by a cash shift (fundraising for future years). VVD member Klink said he found it “very helpful” to talk to the finance minister about it. D66 and CU also suggested a decline in cash. Both sides left the debate “unreassured”.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
