ROTTERDAM, 14/11/03 - Rotterdam city council yesterday barely discussed proposals to stem the flow of immigrants to the city. As far as Mayor Opstelten is concerned, the council should refrain from comment for now.

Certain parties in the council yesterday tried to enter into the discussion that arose earlier this week. They particularly wanted to know what the local Labour (PvdA) party actually wants now. This opposition party presented hard-line plans on Monday in line with those which the coalition of Liveable Rotterdam (LR), Christian democrats (CDA) and conservatives (VVD) will present on 1 December.

Various council members doubt the sincerity of the PvdA, all the more so as the party nationally and in other municipalities strikes a much milder tone. But Mayor Opstelten nipped the discussion in the bud, and only wants to discuss the problem again when the coalition unveils its action plan, "Cement for the city," on 1 December.

CDA alderman Van der Tak made it clear on TV on Wednesday evening that Rotterdam only wants to bar asylum-seekers with a provisional residence status of three years. In the Lower House, however, there does not appear to be a majority in favor of the plan. A majority does appear to favor a PvdA proposal to impose the condition that asylum-seekers could only be offered housing in the big cities if they had completed an integration course.

Amsterdam Economic Affairs alderman G. Dales yesterday called on all accepted refugees who could not go elsewhere in the Netherlands to come to the capital. "The future growth of the Amsterdam economy can only be guaranteed by sufficient growth of the workforce and by the presence of highly and higher educated labour. " The VVD alderman explained that refugees are often well educated.