After hours of debate, the Dutch Senate has passed a law designed to speed up recovery after the economic crisis.

The new legislation will simplify procedures surrounding large-scale infrastructure projects such as road construction. The possibility to object to major schemes will be reduced. As well as improving transport, it is hoped the simplification of planning requirements will give a much-needed boost to the construction sector.

Labour senators were at first sceptical about the government plan, but ended up voting for the move. Initially, they wanted the list of 58 major projects concerned slashed to include only the least contentious. In the end though, they dropped their objections “in the interests of the country”.

The legislation will not only speed up road construction, but also building projects involving housing, railways, wind farms and the like.

Transport organisations have welcomed the new law. A spokesman from Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN) says: “The way ahead has been made easier for a number of major infrastructure projects”. These include roads and bridges.

“The changes will result in an improvement in the flow of traffic on Dutch roads and will also help the economy. A good transport system makes the Netherlands a more attractive base for companies.”

In 2009, foreign investment in the Netherlands was worth 3.142 billion euros. Official figures indicate that one in seven Dutch jobs are with foreign firms.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide