Cities, provinces and water boards want to prevent the country from coming to a standstill. In a letter to the House of Representatives and the Senate, they urged for concrete agreements with the decentralization authorities on receiving asylum, housing, nitrogen, purchasing power and youth care, as silence is completely irresponsible’.

“It is detrimental to the interests of our citizens,” the heads of the umbrella organizations of municipalities (VNG), provinces (IPO) and water boards (Union of Water Boards) wrote in a joint letter.

Cabinet is now out. This month, the DPR will decide which topics to declare controversial, meaning they will not be discussed until a new cabinet is appointed. However, the umbrella organization urged that the Law on Distribution be enforced. This bill should ensure a fair and proportional distribution of asylum seekers in all cities.

The three umbrella organizations also want the government to continue the transition to rural areas, given the urgency. The government’s buy-out scheme for farmers must be maintained, said the three umbrella chairs. This concerns the scheme for the peak loader and the general termination scheme.

Commitments regarding voluntary provincial purchasing schemes and relocation, innovation and extensification schemes must also be met. The so-called acceleration fund must also be continued. The lack of clarity and perspective for farmers is a major problem in transitioning rural areas, the umbrella organization stressed.

Legislation to improve adolescent care is also needed. An agreement on repairs was recently concluded after tough negotiations. The House of Representatives has passed a motion setting a deadline for putting the measures into law. “If this law is delayed, youth care shortages and waiting lists will increase even faster,” the chairman wrote. They thought it was an ‘irresponsible situation’ for both the youth and the municipality.

The agreement on accelerating the construction of affordable housing and thirty percent of affordable rental housing must also be honored.