GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTFollowing the recommendation of Dr. Mrs. Ter Horst (Minister of Internal Affairs), the Council of Ministers has announced the appointment of Mr. A. Wolfsen as the Mayor of Municipality of Utrecht. The appointment of Mr. Wolfsen takes effect from 1st of January 2008. Before this appointment, Mr. Wolfsen, a member of the labour party (PvDA) is currently a member of second house of parliament.
GOVERNMENT WANT MORE ETHNIC MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN POLICE TOP.Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Ter Horst want more women and members of ethnic minority groups in top police positions. According to Minister Ter Horst letter to the parliament, she want within the next three years that members of ethnic minority groups and women fill half of police leadership vacancies.To bring more balance in police staff make-up, the Minister is also proposing that 30 percent of senior police officers vacancies be filled by women or members ethnic minority groups. Concluding her letter, the Minister pointed out that police force must reflect our multiculturalism and an attractive profession for members of ethnic minority groups.
“MINISTER DONNER AND HIS STATE SECRETARY CANVASSING FOR JOB CREATION” through regional job market forumBoth Minister Donner and State Secretary Aboutaleb of Employment Ministry have embarked on a radical regional job market campaign aimed at creating jobs for almost 200.000 jobless people with extra difficulty finding jobs themselves.During the job market gatherings the Minister and State Secretary would be discussing with municipal authorities, employers and regional organizations on the possible ways of getting the jobless in their various regions back to work place.In each of the regions, Minister Donner’s job creation agreements with regional authorities, employers and organizations would be translated into manifesto document.The Minister’s first job market forum was in South Limburg region of Sittard-Geleen, the region is know to have the highest unemployment rate and fastest aging workforce.
“Countering radicalisation: perspectives and strategies from around the globe”From the 22 to 24th of October 2007, experts from both Western and Southern Countries gathered in Den Hague, The Netherlands to discuss and share ideas on how to counter international radicalism. The conference, an initiative of Dutch Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs was organized by NCTb ( Terrorism Control Board), events and discussion was directed by Mr. Ruud Lubbers, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and also former Prime Minister of The Netherlands. The conference organization aligned with the United Nations Strategy on the fight against terrorism. Fight against radicalisation is also a part of this UN strategy that came into force in September 2006. With joint cooperation resulting from this type of gatherings, instruments and strategies are developed to fight radicalisation at all levels.
EUROPE FORMS GENDARMERIE FORCE! The five countries of the European Gendarmerie Force, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands, gathered today at the historic Waterland estate in Velsen, near Amsterdam, to officially sign the Treaty Establishing the European Gendarmerie Force. The signing ceremony was hosted by the Dutch minister of Defence Eimert van Middelkoop, as chairman of the EGF in 2007. The European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) was launched in September 2004 as a multinational co-operation structure of police forces with a military status. In January 2006 a Headquarters was opened in Vicenza and at the end of 2006, 'full operational capability' of the EGF was declared. The EGF can now operate both under military and civilian chains of command and has the capacity to participate in two operations at the same time. The official signing of the Treaty came just in time for the start of the first EGF-mission to Bosnia, for which the details will be worked out with the EU Operation Commander EUFOR. Starting from the beginning of November, the EGF will contribute to the ESDP-mission Althea with an Integrated Police Unit under the operational control of COMEUFOR. The EGF is a robust operational force with an initial rapid reaction capability of 800 persons within 30 days. As a crisis management tool, the EGF will be primarily used for the European Union. However its design makes it available to international organizations (UN, NATO, OSCE) or to an ad hoc coalition. Italy contributes three integrated police units (IPU) to the EGF, Spain two and Portugal one. France contributes two IPU's and fills a third one together with the Netherlands.
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS UNANIMOUS OVER FOREIGNERS INTEGRATION PLAN
The Dutch Council of Ministers has adopted the foreigners integration plan presented by Minister of Integration ( Mrs. Ella Vogelaar).In the new plan, starting from 1st November 2007, Municipal Authorities were given the power to suggest integration programs to all foreigners who under the law are required to follow integration projects.The plan further contained that from 1st January 2008, authorities would offer government financed integration programs leading to obtaining of State Exam Diploma.This the government information source said, would offer participants more opportunities to fully find their place in Dutch Community after completion of their programs.
EMPLOYERS PREFER HIRING ILLEGAL WORKERS: they are cheap and hard working!In most cases employers prefer hiring illegal workers than employing people with work permit. According to recent Dutch Government Ministry of Employment inspection report which the Minister sent to the Parliament, employers repeatedly maintained that illegal workers are hard workers, more productive and cheap for companies.The report further went on to indicate that from more than 7000 employers who responded to this research, about three-quarters strongly informed that almost every employer would employ illegal foreign workers should the Government relax its control on illegal workers.Companies find financial advantage the most important reason for employing illegal workers, the reported stated.
NEW POLICE CHIEF APPOINTEDMr R.G.C. Bik has been appointed the new National Police Chief. The appointment of Mr. Ruud Bik (54years old) would take effect fromDecember 1st 2007.The Appointment of a new Police Chief was necessary and follows the honourable dismissal of Mr. Peter van Zunderd in 2006.The new Police Chief until his appointment, is since 2001 the Chairman ofPolice Chiefs Supervisory Board and Chief of Police in the region of South Holland South.He also served several times as substituting District Police Chief in the region of Utrecht.
PARENTS GIVE TEACHERS PASSMARK, but worries on drop of lessons and quality of teachers remain: According to Ministry of Education opinion polls on the primary and secondary schools teachers performance, most parents gave teachers pass mark. Parents of primary schools students showed greater satisfaction with the teachers, they scored them 7,9% the highest score ever given to teachers in the Country. The score of parents of students in secondary education levels remained(7,1%) the same as last year 2006.Inspite of the positive outcome of this opinion polls, Education Ministry indicated that parents have high worries about the quality of teachers, level of drops and cancellation of lessons in both levels of education.
“REMEMBER TO RESET YOU CLOCK” West Europeanwinter time coming in soon:As 2007 Summer time comes to an end on 28th October, we remind our readers and visitors that the clock would by 03.00hours sent one hour back.As you may remember in 1996 it was calculated that the summer and winter times would take effect on the last Sunday of March and October respectively.Sunday 30thMarch 2008 is the beginning of next summer time.
“TRANSATLANTIC LEADERS MEETING TO DISCUSSEMISSION TRADING” PortugueseEU presidency convenes emission trading forum:The transatlantic leaders from EU, Canada, USA, Germany, The Netherlands and delegates of other National and International governments around the globe are meeting on the 29th October to discuss the international issue of emission trading.This platform, the international Carbon Action Partnership is for the first time and on transatlantic level going to hold discussion on the possibilities of forming a common emission trading system.This gathering is convening at the initiative of the Portuguese European Union Presidency.According to Dutch government news source, this gathering presents a good opportunity to discuss a joint European and American emission trading system.An acceptable and respected worldwide emission system is essential in the prevention climate change, the government sources maintained.The Netherlands State Secretary for European Affairs (Mr.Timmermans) is expected to attend the gathering.
“MORE ATTENTION TO FIRE PREVENTION and SAFETY AT SOCIAL PLACES” Owners of social work places should give more attention to fire prevention and safety.The inspection team of the Ministry (VROM) in its report has recommended that owners of social work places pay more attention to fire prevention and safety.According to report of inspection conducted in 30 social work places, the owners of these work places actually paid enough attention to the important aspects of fire prevention and safety such as safe and quick escape during fire.On the other hand the inspection also found that less attention was paid to areas like, use of fire resistant materials in construction activities, fire dictation installations, clearing and evacuation facilities.VROM Inspection team also reported serious negligence(lack of inspection at social work places )on the side of the Municipal Authorities.The Municipal Councils Organization (VNG)and branch Organization (Cedris) would be meeting to discuss the report.
GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLE OF MINORS “The Dutch is to tackle illegal smuggle of minors in their respective Countries of origin”
In an effort to tackle the illegal international trade on children, the Dutch government is to establish the so called SAT ( Quick Action Teams) in the Countries of origin of these smuggled minors.This special action is needed in other to stop this illegal and inhuman trade at its earliest stage, as well as preventing vulnerable children from becoming victims of this criminal and illegal trade organizations, says the government news source. The special intervention action of the Dutch government was revealed by Mrs. Albayrak, the State Secretary for Justice during her speech at the Council of Europe gathering in Spain. According to the State Secretary, the Netherlands has the needed expertise in areas of fraudulent document dictation etc
“Primary Education Quality Agenda Soon”
The State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science (OCW), Sharon Dijksma reaffirms the need for quality primary education in the country. In Hengelo, the State Secretary spoke firmly of holding discussion with school teachers, managers anddirectors on the need to improve our primary education quality.According to the State Secretary Dijksma, Netherlands schools are in the top 10 internationally, but language and level of calculation could be better than what we have at this moment.In her speech during the opening of University academic School year in Hengelo, Dijksma outlined how she would want to improve the primary education quality.
HOLLAND SUBSCRIBING TO ONE EU ASYLUM SYSTEM!
The Netherlands is getting ready to join the one European Community asylum system. Government willingness to subscribe to this joint EU system is contained in the letter the State Secretary for Justice, Mrs. Albayrak is sending to parliament. Mrs. Albayrak proposal has already received the cabinet endorsement and can become implementable as soon as the house approves it.The Dutch accession to the system is seen as Government contribution to a harmonized, better coordinated and more practical EU asylum policy.The State Secretary proposal further explained that Dutch Government is working hard to achieve by 2010 a common EU asylum procedure and status.Highlighting the importance of a common EU asylum system, Mrs Albayrak letter pointed out, the system would help control asylum seeker multiple requests, bring fair sharing of asylum seekers in EU member states, reduce unwanted policy competition between EU member states. According to Mrs. Albayrak, The cabinet is a strong advocate of joint cooperation between refuge service institutions and a harmonized EU asylum system, one example of failure in the current states policies, is how the Iraqi asylum requests are handled in different EU member states. In the same letter, State Secretary Albayrak talked about residence and work permit for knowledged migrants to the EU.The proposed EU “blue card” is in October expected to be introduced to European Commission and cabinet is also reacting positive to the blue card system. Nederland Mrs. Albayrak said, is the only EU member state that is allowing in this category of migrants on requirements of salary, work contract and employer testimony. Other EU states have special policy requirements such as knowledge of language, age, diploma and work experience.According to the letter of The State Secretary Albayrak, cabinet would also want a common EU policy guideline on this issue.
