DUTCH COALITION UNVEILS REFORMS

The three parties expected to form a coalition government in the
Netherlands have offered parliament a 45-page blueprint for reform.

Coalition programme The programme includes radical plans to tighten
immigration policy - the legacy of the murdered politician Pim Fortuyn,
whose fledgling party took second place in elections six weeks ago.

The coalition, headed by the Christian Democrats (CDA) with the free market
VVD as its third member proposes:

* A crackdown on immigration
* Deploying more police to curb crime
* Review of euthanasia law
* Moves to discourage "drug tourism"
* Shortening hospital waiting lists
* Improving public transport
* Decreasing social welfare spending

"A restrictive aliens policy is necessary and illegal immigration should be
fought with vigour," the parties said.

There are three key planks:

* Obliging asylum seekers to pay a nearly 7,000 euro deposit for compulsory
Dutch language and citizenship lessons

* Restrictions on bringing non-Western family members into the country

* A clamp down on businesses employing illegal immigrants

Critics point out that Dutch asylum procedures are already tough - with one
in three applications rejected within 48 hours.

They add that refugees who have fled their homes will not have the money
they need to pay for the lessons.

Acting against illegal labour in businesses may also prove controversial
among employers in a country which has serious labour shortages in certain
industries and - at 2% - very low national unemployment.

But the coalition also hopes to send more Dutch people back to work by
tougher examinations of those claiming disability benefit - currently an
estimated one in five of the Dutch labour force.

This is part of a more general plan to cut spending on social welfare, and
thereby decrease the national debt.

Coffee Shop Cuts

The liberal drugs policies the Netherlands is well-known for are also in
for a shake-up.

Plans include:

* Moving cannabis cafes from border areas to discourage tourists
* Ending the testing of ecstasy tablets at dance parties

Authorities had introduced such "testing stations" to ensure people were
not taking drugs laced with toxic chemicals.

Jan Peter Balkenende, widely expected to be the next prime minister, has
made clear that he takes a dim view of the sale of soft drugs, and of
euthanasia, which became legal earlier this year.

During the parliamentary debate, opposition parties described the programme
as superficial, unrealistic and "heartless".

"This was supposed to be new politics, but I can't find any of it," said
Tom de Graaf, of the D66 party.

After the debate, the programme was to be taken to Queen Beatrix, with a
request for her to recommend the formation of a government.

While the coalition partners have agreed on a programme, they have not yet
agreed on a division of ministerial posts.