Diplomat and Labour party member Eveline Herfkens’ behaviour has damaged the reputation of her party, the foreign affairs ministry, the United Nations and herself, according to Labour finance minister Wouter Bos.

Bos, speaking on Friday evening, was referring to Herfkens’ acceptance of $280,000 from the Dutch state towards the rent on her New York flat, in breach of UN rules.
Foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen (Christian Democrat) and aid minister Bert Koenders (PvdA) also said Herfkens had received the money ‘unjustly’, according to ANP news service.
Herfkens was given help with paying her rent after being appointed as coordinator of the United Nations’ millenium project to eradicate poverty. The payments later proved to be against UN regulations. When the case came to light earlier this month, Herfkens commented that she had been too busy to check.
The foreign affairs ministry is currently looking into whether it can demand repayment from Herfkens and whether other payments to staff in overseas organisations are in breach of the rules, reports ANP.