The Senate discussed on February 18 the budgets for 2025 concerning Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO). After the debate, the Senate approved both budgets.
The Senate also approved, without a plenary debate, the budgets for Justice and Security, Defense, and the Defense Materiel Fund.
Social Affairs and Employment Budget
The factions of OPNL, GroenLinks-PvdA, SGP, D66, Volt, CDA, PVV, VVD, JA21, ChristenUnie, BBB, and 50PLUS voted in favor of the budget, while the factions of FVD, SP, and PvdD voted against.
In the debate with Minister Van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment, Senator Van Rooijen (50PLUS) pointed to developments around the Pension Future Act (Wtp) adopted in 2023. NSC-Tweede Kamer member Joseph recently submitted an amendment to give pension fund participants more say over their accrued pension rights, leading to controversy in the pension world, particularly among the laws proponents.
Van Rooijen: Citizens should be able to count on their interests being represented in parliament. Why are the government and the pension sector so afraid of the referendums outcome? According to Senator Van den Oetelaar (FVD), the most important sentence in the SZW budget is: Work provides people with meaning, pleasure, and a future perspective. He questioned this, suggesting that simplifying the benefits system is necessary for future prospects. He asked whether the minister could explain what existential security is worth if working does not pay off. Income policy cannot do anything about that, said Van den Oetelaar.
Minister Van Hijum said it is important to look at the purchasing power of the elderly, such as the link between wages and state pensions: if wages rise, so does the state pension. This cabinet also adheres to this. Pensioners will benefit roughly as much as working people. Regarding the Joseph amendment, Van Hijum said there is no scaremongering from the ministry. He has requested advice from the Council of State on that amendment, as well as from social partners and regulators. Once all those opinions are in, the minister will provide the amendment with advice to the Tweede Kamer.
Housing and Spatial Planning Budget
The factions of OPNL, GroenLinks-PvdA, SGP, D66, Volt, CDA, PVV, VVD, JA21, ChristenUnie, BBB, and 50PLUS voted in favor of the budget, while the factions of FVD, SP, and PvdD voted against.
In the debate with Minister Keijzer of Housing and Spatial Planning, Senator Van Rooijen (50PLUS) pointed to the coalition agreements ambitious goal for building senior housing. He asked whether this would succeed and whether the minister could promise to assist if necessary to achieve the goal. According to Van Rooijen, renting out homes is the pension of self-employed and farmers. The Affordable Rent Act is therefore a heavy blow. The fiscal pressure on landlords causes them to sell rental homes. He asked: How does the minister think the Affordable Rent Act will have a favorable effect on the social rental sector? If the evaluation shows that the law did not have the desired effect, will the minister reconsider the law?
Senator Koffeman (PvdD) called on the cabinet to hasten the nitrogen approach. Remkes made a proposal three years ago. With the disappearance of the nitrogen fund, his proposal was no longer possible. Reducing intensive livestock farming has the greatest effect, but there are also other options such as reducing Schiphol and greening the industry. Koffeman further asked whether the temporality of care homes on the property will be lifted to make them permanently available, and whether housing division will be possible. Regarding the ministers plans not to give priority to status holders, he asked where they should go to relieve asylum reception.
According to Senator Van Aelst (SP), housing should not be left to the market. Tenant existential security is at risk: rents are rising, and purchasing power is falling. Van Aelst: Municipalities should be allies in housing construction, but at this moment they cannot be because they have no financial space and autonomy. As long as this cabinet does not strengthen the financial situation of municipalities, it cannot expect anything from municipalities regarding housing construction. She also asked how the cabinet will ensure that properties and land owned by the state are used for affordable housing. In the housing debate, people are pitted against each other. Refugees are blamed for the housing shortage, while it is due to, among other things, land speculation and putting affordable homes up for sale, said Van Aelst.
According to Senator Dessing (FVD), the housing market is in a major crisis, partly due to the disastrous outcome of the Affordable Rent Act: The result is disastrous. Rental homes are being sold by owners, putting more pressure on the market. The €30,000 offered to municipalities to provide a house for status holders is, of course, an act of desperation, which already clearly shows that radically different choices need to be made.
Senator Van Langen-Visbeek (BBB) looked at what is possible, such as accelerating construction processes. The minister has started this. Furthermore, innovative construction methods can be applied, existing buildings can be converted, new regulations for living in holiday parks, and a host arrangement. Good things are being done, according to Van Langen: The letters BBB also stand for building, building, building. And this minister is working on that.
Minister Keijzer said her task is to find a place for all functions we want to fit into the available space in the Netherlands. A new way of spatial planning is combining functions. This is already happening in practice, such as walking and cycling paths over farmland, which is a combination of recreation and agriculture. A lot is already happening in the field of housing. With this budget, we are also taking the first steps, said Keijzer.
Regarding the Affordable Rent Act, she said she will look closely to see if the Land Registry figures match the image portrayed by the media. If this is the case and it turns out that the result of the Affordable Rent Act is undesirable, she will look for adjustments to the law. Regarding her plans not to give priority to status holders, Keijzer said that some self-reliance may also be expected from status holders.
Rejected Motions
- Motion-Koffeman et al. on long-term availability of care homes.
- Motion-Koffeman et al. on standardized regulations for nest facilities.
The minister advised against both motions.