Dutch finance minister proposes cuts to aid, asylum spending

THE HAGUE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen on Friday proposed cuts to development cooperation and asylum-related spending in order to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s new defense spending target.

Speaking on the Dutch broadcaster BNR Radio, Heinen said the Netherlands must gradually restructure its budget priorities to align with NATO's new requirement, which was agreed upon at the NATO summit held in The Hague in June.