Netherlands asylum costs to hit €1 billion this year

This year's costs for sheltering asylum seekers are heading towards the one billion euros mark, according to Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem of Finance. "That is the reality we are now faced with." "I have not recalculated, but it is absolutely true that we are heading towards the billion this year", were the Minister's words to BNR. He added that he hopes the amount will be brought down quickly with the measures currently being implemented. "These are very large amounts. And of course it is... I do not want to say 'sin money', because you have to spend it. You can not let people sleep on the streets, that is the last thing I want. But I'd rather spend it on other things." The cabinet will include the additional costs to the revision of the budget in late November. Dijsselbloem told the broadcaster that so far the government will not have to make any cutbacks to cover the extra expenditure.