2 days Ago By Robin Pascoe
The four coalition parties have reached agreement on the traditional spring financial statement after days of talks, culminating in a marathon 25-hour session. Finance minister Eelco Heinen told reporters that the budget rules on not adding to the national debt had been kept to in the final package. However, while the parties have been quick to talk about their wins, he said, the plans also include cost cuts.
More details about spending cuts will made public once the package has been approved in the cabinet on Thursday, he said. The main points of the agreement: The parties have also agreed to postpone decisions on increased funding to tackle nitrogen-based pollution, climate change, and refugee accommodation until August, when the annual budget negotiations take place. No additional money has been allocated to address the shortage of prison space yet either.
This year’s talks had become bogged down in determining how much financial leeway there is for new policy. Under cabinet rules, all windfalls for the treasury are supposed to go towards reducing the national debt, and the VVD in particular wanted to stick to that pledge. The package now needs to be assessed by the Council of State and the macro-economic planning bureau CPB before being submitted to Brussels as part of the EU’s fiscal review process.
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