Minister of Housing Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan stated that additional measures are needed to address a nearly 20 billion euro deficit facing Dutch housing corporations. While coalition plans exist to fund housing construction and sustainability, calculations suggest these measures currently only solve the shortfall in theory.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed support for a more dynamic EU accession process for candidate countries. Speaking after the EU-Western Balkans summit, she emphasized the importance of rewarding reform efforts with deeper integration into the European Union.
The Dutch cabinet plans to implement a principle ban on the use of steel slag to protect human health and the environment. Under the new proposal, permits for using the material will only be issued if safety can be guaranteed.
State Secretary Annet Bertram is developing new regulations for the use of steel slag in construction, effectively introducing a "No/unless" ban. Under these rules, a permit will only be granted if the use is proven safe for humans and the environment, including applications in water.
Burglars in Haarlem have become more successful compared to five years ago, leading to an increase in break-ins during the first months of this year. Data indicates that this higher success rate may be driving the recent surge in criminal activity across the city.
Ireland has imposed an entry ban on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich due to their extremist views and role in the Gaza conflict. Prime Minister Micheál Martin previously indicated that the government would take action against officials who fuel tensions in the region.