Netherlands-Suriname Relations: The Netherlands: Surinamese president to address Dutch parliament

Surinamese president Chan Santokhi will address the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, during his visit to the Netherlands next month. An address to parliament is a rarely awarded diplomatic honor in the Netherlands and marks the restoration of good ties with Suriname, Trouw reports.

Santokhi and part of his government will visit The Hague and Prime Minister Mark Rutte on September 8 and 9.

The relationship between the Netherlands and Suriname was under pressure for some time because of the presidency of Desi Bouterse, who was convicted of cocaine trafficking in the Netherlands. Restoration of this relationship between the Netherlands and one of its former colonies started when Santokhi won the election in May last year and got sworn in as president in

Read more at: Surinamese president to address Dutch parliament | NL Times

EU Economy: Netherlands' Central Bank President Knot: "European economy 'very much okay'

Netherlands Parliament and offices of the PM in the Hague

Klaas Knot, the president of the Netherlands’ Central Bank, said Europe’s economy was “very much okay” despite worries over trade wars, slowing growth and uncertainty over Brexit.

Speaking on Dutch television last Sunday, Knot, who also sits on the European Central Bank’s governing council, said subdued inflation was troubling, but it was “premature” to talk about a possible recession.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi acknowledged on Thursday that economic growth in the euro zone was likely to be weaker than earlier expected due to the fall-out from factors ranging from China’s slowdown to Brexit.

Knot, usually viewed as one of the more hawkish members of the governing board, said the bloc would see “a few quarters of slightly lower growth, and that’s mostly due to foreign trade.”
Internal demand remained “very good”, he said.

A Reuters report by by Toby Sterling; editing by John Stonestreet

Netherlands -Turkey Relations: Worries in the Dutch Parliament about Turkish cultural schools in the Netherlands for Dutch children of Turkish descent

Turkey has advised the Dutch Government to finance Turkish cultural schools in the Netherlands for Dutch children of Turkish descent

In these schools Turkey wants to give language lessons, lessons in history and religion. The classes in the schools must consist of a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 25 pupils. The children must follow the courses for at least 32 weeks, and no longer than 40 weeks.

The 'weekend school project', officially called  "Anadola Hafta Sonu Okullar Proje Destek Program", is said to have as its major aim to preserve the identity and culture of young Turks living abroad and to strengthen ties with their homeland, Turkey.

The Dutch ministry of Social Affairs said in a reaction that "countries are free to stimulate the preservation of their own language and culture among their fellow countrymen abroad" and said many countries, including the Netherlands already do so. ''

The ministry, however did note that -  "what we do not want is education that aims to hinder integration in the Netherlands or to stimulate anti-democratic views. If there are signs that this is happening, the government will act. ''

Note EU-Digest: the objectives of the Turkish proposal, which still has to be voted on in the Parliament, and approved by the Dutch government, certainly does not promote a rapid and smooth integration process for Turks, who want to fully integrate as citizens of the Netherlands. 

To the contrary, it promotes a continuous attachment to the former home country, which certainly can not be the main purpose for a person immigrating to another country.

There is obviously nothing wrong with anyone treasuring his heritage or culture, but to enforce this with special schooling is not only costly, but also totally unnecessary, unless there is a political motive behind it.

And last but not least, where is Erdogan going to get the money from to finance this project, with his country on the verge of bankruptcy? 

 For the complete report go to: Zorgen in Tweede Kamer over Turkse scholen in Nederland | Binnenland | AD.nl

The Netherlands - Ukraine: E.U. Reaches Compromise With the Netherlands on Closer Ukraine Ties

Referendum:PM Rutte reaches nebulous EU compromise

European Union leaders reached a compromise with the Netherlands on Thursday that should allow the bloc to enact an agreement on closer ties with Ukraine, regarded as a landmark deal to counter the influence of Russia.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands said on Thursday that he now had the necessary guarantees to start pushing the agreement through his country’s Parliament and to overcome the objections of Dutch voters, who voted against the agreement in a referendum in April.

The Netherlands has been the lone holdout in ratifying the agreement within the European bloc’s 28 member nations.

“I am going to fight to get a majority” in Parliament, Mr. Rutte said. “We will have to see. It won’t be easy. We’ll have to work hard for it.”

If it is approved, the deal would allow the European Union to show a unified front against Russia, and to boost trade and cooperation with Ukraine, which has found it difficult to remain out of Moscow’s sphere of influence.

“The E.U. can now keep a united front against the destabilizing policies of Russia,” Mr. Rutte said.

The agreement between Ukraine and the European Union had looked like a done deal until earlier this year, when the Dutch government was forced into a nonbinding, or advisory, referendum. The rejection by voters had left the bloc in a conundrum because the agreement needed unanimous approval from member countries.

Under the compromise, Mr. Rutte obtained assurances the agreement was not a step toward European Union membership for Ukraine, and that it could not be used as one in the future. The deal does not provide a collective-security guarantee or extra money for Ukraine, and it also requires the Ukrainian government to do more to counter corruption.

The Dutch prime minister said enacting the deal was essential for national and geopolitical reasons, and pointed to Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and its annexation of Crimea.

The Netherlands will hold national elections on March 15, and the move to sidestep the advisory referendum results with an updated agreement might not play well with an electorate that has been increasingly prone to snubbing the political elite.

In a post on Twitter, Geert Wilders, a lawmaker known for his opposition to Islam, immigration and the European Union, posted a photo of Mr. Rutte with the Dutch words for “Resign and go.”

Mr. Rutte also realized the challenge ahead.

“This is not an election-winning point,” he said. “It is not a vote winner. But my job is ultimately to make decisions in the interest of the Netherlands and our security.”

Note EU-Digest: Details of the compromise were not announced and the statement by PM Rutte of the Netherlands on this so-called compromise are still nebulous .

Read more: E.U. Reaches Compromise With the Netherlands on Closer Ukraine Ties - The New York Times

EU-US Trade Negotiations: Dutch MPs call for national laws to have priority over TTIP trade treaty

Dutch MPs call for national laws to have priority over TTIP trade treaty Business March 31, 2015 europe usaThe Dutch parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted in favour of a motion stating a new trade treaty between the US and Europe should not disadvantage the Dutch legal system and Dutch democracy. The TTIP is a new free trade agreement which supporters say will boost prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. However, its detractors claim Europe will lose control over product safety and workers rights and that it will give big business free play to challenge government policies. One section of the treaty allows a company to make a legal claim against a country if it considers its interests are being damaged. This could include being refused permission to sell products or being forced to comply with environmental legislation. The Dutch cabinet supports the TTIP in principle but trade minister Lilian Ploumen is trying to ensure it is amended in places, broadcaster Nos reports.

Read more at DutchNews.nl: Dutch MPs call for national laws to have priority over TTIP trade treaty http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/03/dutch-mps-call-for-national-laws-to-have-priority-over-ttip-trade-treaty/

The Dutch parliament recently overwhelmingly voted in favour of a motion stating a new trade treaty between the US and Europe should not disadvantage the Dutch legal system and Dutch democracy. The TTIP is a new free trade agreement which supporters say will boost prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

However, its detractors claim Europe will lose control over product safety and workers rights and that it will give big business free play to challenge government policies. One section of the treaty allows a company to make a legal claim against a country if it considers its interests are being damaged.

 This could include being refused permission to sell products or being forced to comply with environmental legislation. The Dutch cabinet supports the TTIP in principle but trade minister Lilian Ploumen is trying to ensure it is amended in places, broadcaster Nos reports.

Read more: Dutch MPs call for national laws to have priority over TTIP trade treaty - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands: Kurdish Protesters Occupy Dutch Parliament

Hundreds of Kurdish protesters have occupied the Dutch Parliament building and are calling for more action to combat the Islamic State terror group.

The official Twitter feed of The Hague police says the demonstration late Monday is peaceful and that officers are in talks with the protest leaders. Police advised the public not to go to the square outside Parliament.

National broadcaster NOS posted video on its website showing chanting protesters inside the Parliament building holding a banner that said in Dutch "Stop the silence. Support Kobani," a reference to the Syrian town close to the Turkish border that was under attack Monday by Islamic State fighters.

Note EU-Digest: Hopefully Mr. Rutte called Mr.Erdogan and asked him why he is sitting on his hands instead of using all the tanks he lined up on the Turkish border facing Kobani  ?

 Read MoreKurdish Protesters Occupy Dutch Parliament - ABC News

The Netherlands - Ukraine: Geert Wilders' goes on rampage in Dutch Parliament during Ukraine Debate

Mr. Geert Wilders of the Nationalist - Anti-Muslim Party For Freedom (PVV) went into a verbal rampage during the Ukraine debate in the Dutch parliament and presented the following motion on behalf of his party  on the situation Ukraine

"whereas the European Commission proposes to give billions of euros of European money, including Dutch money, to Ukraine, believes that not one penny of Dutch tax money should be given to Ukraine, and requests that the government makes certain that not one penny of Dutch tax money goes to Ukraine, and proceeds to the order of the day".  (The motion was translated from Dutch into English by Don Hank)

EU-Digest

Netherlands: Dutch defence ministry owns 75 drones but is secretive about use

The Dutch defence ministry owns 75 drones, or unmanned surveillance aircraft, and these are regularly used in the Netherlands to carry out police work, defence minister Jeanine Hennis has confirmed to MPs in the Dutch Parliament.

MPs had asked questions about the privacy implications of using drones after a report by the AD newspaper earlier this month.

In the article, the paper said drones are used to trace burglars and getaway cars as well as illegal marijuana plantations. For example, Harlingen borrowed two drones from the defense ministry last year after a spate of burglaries in the Frisian town.

According to research by news website nu.nl, drones have been used 551 times since their use in civilian surveillance was agreed in 2009.

In 2012, information on air space closures in official documents show drones were used on average once every other day. In 2011, almost 90% of flights were made public in advance but last year this fell to 50%. So far this year, only 24% of drone flights have been published.

Read more: DutchNews.nl - Use of drone aircraft by police is increasingly secretive: nu.nl