Slow-progress penalty cancelled, but most budget cuts remain

The cuts to education and research in the Netherlands will largely go ahead, as confirmed by an agreement on 11 December on the budget for education, culture and science. Of the planned €2 billion (US$2.1 billion) in cuts, less than €700 million will be reversed, reports Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau.

Over recent weeks, opposition parties negotiated with the coalition over the cuts to education and research. Initially, D66 participated, but in the end, only the CDA, ChistenUnie, SGP and JA21 remained involved. The four coalition parties (PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB) were forced to engage in talks as they lack a majority in the senate, where the budget risked being blocked. The rest of the opposition remains firmly against the budget.

The cancellation of the slow-progress penalty and the easing of cuts for international students in regions with population decline are among the concessions made. However, cuts to scientific research are being upheld almost entirely.
Full report on the Erasmus Magazine site