The Dutch government expects to make nearly 8 billion euros more on taxes and premiums than estimated on Budget Day last year, according to the Spring Memo sent to parliament by Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Thursday. The extra money mainly comes from VAT (€2.4 billion), corporate tax (€2.3 billion) and wage and income tax (€1.2 billion), NU.nl reports.
The Spring Memo shows the changes the government made since the budget was presented on Budget Day in September last year.
Speakers arranged for a controversial gala of Muslim imams were stripped of their visas to enter the Netherlands do to the "risky" nature of the event, and to protect Muslims, the National Counterterrorism Coordinator wrote in a letter to Parliament. The event was scheduled for March 8th in Rijswijk, but was cancelled by organizers who said the unfair depictions of their group in the media made it impossible to hold their gala.
The threat level around the United Nations base in Gao, Mali has increased and the threat is "significant," according to the Minister of Defence, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Many Dutch troops are stationed in the area supporting the multinational mission, Minusma, to restore security and stability in Mali.
The threat of Islamist extremists is giving new ground for foreign military investment into Afghanistan from countries including The Netherlands. The Cabinet is discussing plans to send around 100 soldiers to Afghanistan in 2015 to train the army and the police, the Volkskrant reports.
Prince Willem-Alexander will accept a ceremonial role as a king if the House decides that. He said that in an interview with RTL Nieuws and NOS. “I’ll accept anything, as long as the processes are democratic and laws are followed”.
