Dutch news in brief – 18 February

FM urges Turkey’s EU entry in 2015

Foreign Minister Ben Bot is in favour of a quick start to talks between Turkey and the EU about admitting the predominantly Islamic country to the union. He said Turkey should be admitted to the EU in 2015. The Dutch Cabinet has long been divided over the issue of Turkey’s admission and is expected to discuss Bot’s proposal in the near future.

Dutch MPs back asylum seeker deportations

The Dutch Lower House of Parliament officially approved on Tuesday the government’s plan to deport 26,000 asylum seekers. Under the government amnesty for long-term asylum seekers, another 2,300 people will be given a residence permit. The plans have sparked widespread opposition across the country.

Police budget ‘unequally divided’

Rural police can perform better than their urban colleagues because they receive a relatively large amount of funding, Central Planning Bureau (CPB) said on Wednesday. The higher budget means they can also solve more crimes. The CPB said the present police budget share-out led to unequal results. Based on the crime rates, Utrecht, Gelderland South and Brabant should receive more funding.

Elderly get walking frame lessons

Health insurer VGZ started voluntary courses in Eindhoven on Wednesday teaching elderly people how to safely use a rollator, a walking frame on wheels. Course participants gain practical experience and must also complete a 30-minute theory exam. The aim is to reduce the number of rollator accidents, more than a 1,000 of which are reported each year to first aid medical centres. The Consumer and Safety Foundation expects EUR 4.9 million will be saved on annual medical costs.

Missing widow’s remains still not found

The resumed search for the remains of Haarlem widow Tina Akersloot-König, who disappeared in 1970, was postponed on Tuesday night. There remain two places in Haarlem parks still to be searched. The case has already passed its statute of limitations, but the suspect, Paul R., is also suspected of killing the Muller couple from the town of Baarn and police do not want to miss any evidence. The couple’s remains were found last month after they disappeared in 1999.

11pc of youth carry weapons

A total of 11 percent of the youths aged between 15 and 25 carry a weapon. Just 22 percent of young men living in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht have respect for police compared to 36 percent of those who live in other cities. A total of 34 percent have respect for the police and 86 percent believe it is becoming less safe in the Netherlands, a BNN-commissioned survey found.

Subject: Dutch news