premier wanted to present in brussels next week to show the country is on track to meet budget limits. the dutch had been one of germany's chief partners in the push to cut budget deficits in the eurozone. now, dutch papers are writing that chancellor merkel is losing an ally. lee told parliament that the netherlands was also losing an opportunity. >> a deadlock is not good for the netherlands. our economy wil improve only if we stop taking on new debt. he still needs opposition support for spending cuts, but he's not impressed. with fresh elections looming, he has found a way to praise -- placed the blame. the dutch should stop babbling to the dictators in brussels, he said on monday. >> the government is doing anything that can and deteriorating conditions for seniors. >> the eu commission rejected the portrayal of the situation. >> this is basically because it is good for the dutch citizens, and decisions, by the way, have not been taken by brussels. >> the dutch finance minister, for his part, attempted to calm markets ahead of tuesday's bond sale, saying holland could stil

criticism. >> they overshadow a nato meeting in brussels designed to map out what role the alliance will play in afghanistan once foreign troops are gone. we will have more analysis from brussels and washington in a moment, but our coverage begins with what came out of the meeting in brussels. >> speaking to media at the meeting, the nato secretary general was quite clear on this point -- nato will remain committed to afghanistan beyond 2014, not as a fighting force, but to train and assist. >> it is in the interest of the whole international community to see strong and highly capable afghan security forces take full responsibility for security. >> the price tag of a mission to assist in afghanistan's army and police forces could cost around $4 billion a year, says nato. that is less than the cost of keeping combat troops there, but it is unclear how much member states would contribute. on tuesday, australia said it would withdraw most soldiers as early as mid-2013 and turned over command to local forces. a statement that caused some consternation at nato headquarters. >> as far as

its laws to come in line with european requirements. >> at issue are reforms that brussels says affect the independence of the country's judiciary. >> the european commission says it will refer hungry to the european court of justice because laws passed by parliament in budapest violate eu treaties. brussels says one law gives the government too much authority over the appointment of judges. the other concerns the independence of the country's data protection authority. >> it would be a lot easier for hungary as well as for the european union if these problems were eliminated. because these are not just minor violations. they are about fundamental european rights and the values on which our union is based. >> in brussels on tuesday, the prime minister did agree to your demands to improve the independence of his country's central bank, a condition set by the european commission in order for hungary to resume negotiations over financial aid that the country badly needs. hungary sees that as a success. >> only a very limited number of issues will continue in this legal procedure and go pr

deficit spending cuts ordered by brussels was too great. new elections will be held, possibly in june. >> it was shortly after 4:00 p.m. when prime minister mark rutte left the royal palace after handing the queen his cabinet's resignation. his government is set to continue its official duties. the premier drove away from the scene without a word to reporters. the cabinet met on monday to draw up its resignation. the minority government has been in crisis since it lost support for is badly-needed budget cuts. -- for its badly-needed budget cuts. >> and a few decades, the netherlands have showed fiscal, solid budgetary policy and this will not change. >> negotiations came to an abrupt halt this weekend after an attack by it are right mean populist leader. he accuses them of doing the bidding of brussels. >> this is basically for the dutch citizens and the decisions, but the way, have not been taken by brussels. >> to the middle east now. in the coming days pending the arrival of next week's it monitors for the truce brokered by kofi annan. >> it is said that dialogue is the only way ou

reactors with public funds. for that, they need the green light from brussels. sales of nuclear generated electricity would also be subsidized, just like wind and solar energy are today. the demands come from countries that want to expand their own nuclear industries. in france, nuclear energy accounts for 78% of total energy production. it is europe's nuclear power leader. the czech republic currently gets a third of its energy needs for nuclear reactors. in britain, that figure is 17%. pauling currently has no nuclear power plants. -- poland currently has no nuclear power plants. coal is their chief source of energy. poland is planning to build six new reactors. the british are looking at 40 nuclear plants. whether taxpayers will help pay for them as an issue eu leaders will have to decide that their next summit in june. >> the eurozone's sovereign debt woes coupled with disappointing first quarter for the chinese economy as traders on edge. >> new figures showed china's economic performance was worse than expected, starting worries about the health of the global economy. >> europe's on

what's a warm welcome to you. "european journal" coming to you from brussels. here is what we, with you today. song and dance. the six grammys to represent russia in the song contest. helping those who help others. and restore with the effects of the debt crisis in europe. the crisis is not over yet. take spain, for instance. they are struggling and they are having to pay horrendously high interest rates when they want to borrow money in the markets. one look at the labor market shows things are getting worse rather than better. it was the beginning of a vicious cycle. without a job, it becomes difficult to pay your bills. what happens next? you lose your apartment. >> no evictions year, they chance. the police are nervous. they're due to be evicted from their apartment in the bailiffs are closing in. they are gathered upstairs. the couple has not paid their mortgage for one year. the stress has made monica sick. they have been given two weeks and then they are out. bu>> we build out an application for social housing but there is nothing for us. we looked at a few apartment but they

♪ >> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal," our weekly magazine from brussels with stores from all over europe. -- compulsory in armenian schools. paribas in danger. why yorkshire could become a mining center again. and kids keep up -- the controversial ban. armenians do not have it easy. the cease-fire with neighboring as a rise and is very unstable, and the relationship with turkey is difficult because the turks still deny the mass murder armenians during and after the first world war. things are not much brighter when it comes to the country's economy, either. in florida prospects in the small country in the caucuses are low, prompting people to leave the country look for jobs elsewhere in russia or in the u.s.. so how do you make young armenians believe in their future? give them something armenians are famous for. >> they may be only seven, but they already know how to topple a king. these second graders in armenia are learning to play chess. it is a required subject at the anton chekhov school. she says chess is great because it change your mind. it will make

, we're joined by our brussels correspondent jeff mead. they said this is not violate the fundamental right to the protection of family life. tell us more. >> they said that this was a guarantee to the right of private and family life. in europe, where the majority of countries do and, they said it was too early to change that moral code, and a german court said it plans to protect the family on the basis that and blurs family. the judgments themselves are blurred. the court saw no reason to change the overall position in europe and it allows those countries that do allow between consenting adults to go ahead and do that. for the vast majority, they will retain what has been a longstanding legal, as well as moral taboo against. >> you did mention the other countries. do you think this german decision will influence other countries? >> i doubt it very much. i think those that changed their laws -- the most recent is france -- i do not think they are going to change. there is still a moral feeling about, whatever the lot is, and in many of those european countries where they officially

new german president, jaochim gauck, wrapped up his first visit to brussels in his new capacity. >> to visit nato headquarters in brussels and met with eu leaders. he called for more european integration and said the union heads germany's full support. >> jaochim gauck's visit to brussels was the celebration of the european project at the headquarters of democratic europe. he received a warm welcome from the eu parliament's president. >> it is an honor and a joy for me personally. many thanks for this symbolic visit. >> jaochim gauck also met with the eu commission president who spoke about what europe means to people who grew up under non- democratic regimes. >> i was 18 years of age when democracy came to my country. i remember. i remember when it was not possible to read the books i wanted, to listen to radio, or to watch what i wanted. for my generation, europe is freedom. >> europe and freedom. for both of them, the concepts and hand-in-hand. >> it has been a long journey from eastern europe to europe. i am also deeply moved by president barack so's recollections of his youth in a

in brussels drawing up directives. once they are agreed on, they have to be translated into law. we expect our citizens to follow the law, and we expect no less from the justice minister. >> dispute is part of wider jostling in the coalition. the fdp is playing down the threat from brussels and says the eu directive puts basic freedoms at risk. >> to brazil now where the laws protecting the world's largest rain forests may soon lose some of their teeth. >> congress has adopted controversial legislation that eases the rules on the amount of forest farmers have to preserve on their land. and the german president is expected to veto the bill, which could ignite a fight with congress. amities members are among the last. it is estimated only about 450 of the hunter-gatherer's remain in brazil's amazon rain forest. human rights campaigners say their home is being destroyed at an alarming rate to make way for farming. now the process looks set to decelerate after deputies in the lower house voted to ease land- use regulations. the new legislation would reduce the amount of forest that farm

the dw studios in brussels. cannabis against the crisis -- the spanish village that once to form part. monastery in danger -- christians in turkey, under danger. and the man who saved a zoo. moment, spain is having a particularly hard time. the country's debt is piling up, banks are of money, and half the country's young people do not have jobs. the country has answered with harsh austerity measures, but the people in one village in catalonia thought that could not be the only answer. they had an idea thahas been causg quite a sti are beyond the borders of the tiny community. still well in the world. the sense of time is different here. miguel boras does what he has done for the last 50 years -- her goats. but it is a profession with no future. it does not p. >> most of the people here live from white goats, but every year, there are fewer. >> so what do they live from now? then what? the goats? >> no, the people. >> the people moved away to other villages where there is work. of the 2000 people we once had, we are now just 800. >> but now, the place is making headlines. local officia

>> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal" coming to you from dw studio in brussels. here is what on the show toy- ance -- wh will become of the last farm in paris? coast soon be home to a nuclear power plant? and belfast's new museum pays homage to the titanic. it is hard to believe that rents were once very cheap in paris. one of the most popular neighborhoods was were virtually penniless artists such as painter pablo picasso and write your earning -- ernest hemingway used to live and work. today, is one of the most expensive aas of paris. no wonder real-estate agencies are desperately seeking every square meeting under a lamp there. this could mean the end for a remnant of the past, that the people have grown fond of, the last farm in paris. >> lived in the middle of the district for 30 years. he says he does not enjoy visiting the district anymore because it has bome too classy. >> i am really quite sad about the way the street looks today. this used to be a village where everyone knew each other. >> a bakery, a laundry, a bookstore. back then, small shops lie in

violence. >> syria was also topping the agenda at nato in brussels. they called on russia, one of syria's few remaining allies, to use its influence to end the bloodshed. >> the russian foreign minister cyndi lauper of -- sergei lavrov said the alliance was down to bring this agreements. be appealed to russia to bring more pressure to its -- they appealed to russia to bring more pressure to its ally, syria. >> we have to end the violence, to make sure the annan plan has every chance to succeed. the assad regime must know it cannot rely on russia. >> the un-brokered cease-fire has been in force for a week, but there is fresh shelling in homs on thursday. >> if the cease-fire does not work, i think it will be understandable who was responsible for that. the assad regime. it looks to russia to pressure the regime to comply. >> but russia says the other countries should give the peace plan a chance to work and not condemn it to failure. >> the syrian government should ensure the human-rights and security of its citizens. >> discussions will continue at the friends of syria conference, taking

♪ >> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal" coming to you from dw's studio in brussels. life easier for working parents. why the you canadian -- when the ukraine is seeking refuge abroad. -- finish kindergarten making life easier for working parents. balancing your professional and family life can be quite a challenge, especially with a number of 9-5 jobs on the decrease. more europeans have to work shifts in hospitals, 24-hour supermarkets, or in the media, but who looks after the little ones when you have to work a night shift? your partner? mother? family friends? finland now has a solution -- an around-the-clock kindergarten. >> shall be working the evening shift today and stuffs her daughter enter her snowsuit and heads for the day care center, and all-day care center, open around-the-clock. >> my husband and i both work shifts. it is to be a regular center. it was complicated to work out who could take her, who could pick her up, and where she could spend the evening. with a 24-hour day care center, it is much easier. >> it is a big help for her husband as well. h

and hello, and a very warm welcome to "european journal", our magazine from brussels with stories all across europe. here is what we have for you. white jewish families are contemplating leaving france. spain -- while more horses have to be rescued from the slaughterhouse. informants on the church board. france's jewish community is the largest one in the eu, and french jews are particularly shocked at the series of attacks in toulouse. the perpetrator first killed three french soldiers. in his eyes, there were lost souls. then he shot dead three jewish children and a rabbi. the attacks have renewed public debate in france about immigration and fundamentalism. those topics are now dominating the election campaign, and the attacks have already changed the daily lives of jewish families in france. >> the knapsacks are packed. he accompanies his daughters to school. after the attack, french jews are more cautious than before. the rabbi wears a cap over his yamulke. not everyone has to see that he is a jew. his children attend the state's goal, not the district jewish school. that alr