Senate backs cutting Dutch benefits paid to citizens in Morocco

A majority in the Dutch Senate voted for the abolition of the treaty with Morocco on the payment of Dutch benefits to people in the country, broadcaster NOS reports. For a long time Minister Lodewijk Asscher of Social Affairs and Employment tried to lower the amount of benefits paid to people in Morocco to the standard of living in that country. But each attempt to negotiate with Morocco failed. An increasing number of Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, parties pressured the Minister to terminate the agreement. Last week a large majority in the Tweede Kamer voted for its termination. And now the Senate also joined the choir. If the treaty is formally abolished before this summer, it will cease to apply from January 1st 2017. From that moment no new benefits will be paid over to people in Morocco. Nothing changes for existing benefits, though some of them can expire. According to NOS, a number of politicians hope that Morocco will agree to negotiations, now that the treaty will be canceled.