The coalition parties are willing to let go of the slow student fine, says RTL Nieuws. Moreover, they agree to reduce the planned budget cuts in scientific research and starter and stimulus grants by 150 million euros.
This is revealed in a document in the hands of RTL Nieuws on which the negotiations with the opposition are said to be based. The opposition threatens to vote against the education budget in the Senate unless the cabinet reverses at least 1.3 billion euros in planned cutbacks on education and research.
Counteroffer
The four coalition parties initially refused but presented a counteroffer of 363 million euros this week. The opposition’s so-called monster alliance (D66, CDA, JA21, ChristenUnie and SGP) were unimpressed.
The new counteroffer comprises a 650-million-euro reduction in cutbacks. Budget cuts in scientific research are reduced by 100 million, and starter and stimulus grants by 50 million, among other adjustments.
How the opposition responds to this offer is not known. The negotiations on the Education, Culture and Science budget are to continue behind closed doors this afternoon.