NATO & Defense
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has voiced his support for Spain amid a dispute over NATO’s direction and the role of critical allies. According to Jetten, it is “absolutely clear” to all EU leaders that Spain will remain a full member of the military alliance. “And it will remain
Caribbean & Latin America
The Dutch cabinet believes that relations between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten can be improved through the creation of a new Kingdom Conference. Improving governance on the islands, tackling poverty and strengthening local economies are presented as key policy priorities. This emerges from the Policy Letter on Kingdom
Russia
The Dutch cabinet has approved the appointment of eleven new Dutch ambassadors. The proposal was submitted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Berendsen. The appointments are still subject to the consent of the receiving countries and are expected to take effect this summer. Among the appointments are six (geo)politically sensitive
Dutch politics
In an increasing number of places across the Netherlands, plans for asylum accommodation are leading to protests and rising tensions. Recent unrest at asylum reception centres, including in Loosdrecht, is primarily being viewed by the government as a public order issue, with municipalities expected to receive maximum support to help
Europe & EU
Under Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the Netherlands is once again emphatically positioning itself as one of the most fiscally cautious EU member states in the negotiations over the European Union’s new multiannual budget. Jetten has flatly rejected the European Commission’s proposal to raise the EU budget for the
Dutch politics
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Netherlands has spent more than €20 billion on Ukraine or on Ukrainian refugees. Funding commitments run through to 2029, according to a new parliamentary document released by the Dutch cabinet.
Ukraine
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten does not want to name a specific year for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He said so on Thursday ahead of the informal EU summit in Cyprus. According to Jetten, accession negotiations can move quickly, but that does not mean Ukraine will be
Europe & EU
The European Parliament is demanding clarification from the European Commission about planned talks with the Taliban. At the initiative of MEP Tineke Strik (GroenLinks), the Parliament has summoned European Commissioner Brunner to account for the plans. The move follows reports that the European Commission and several EU member states are
Europe & EU
Former Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp will be the new ambassador of the European Union to China, sources in The Hague confirm. Veldkamp is expected to take up his post in Beijing this summer. The EU ambassadorship in China is regarded as one of the Union’s most politically and
Dutch politics
The Hague has reacted positively to the breakthrough in Brussels on the European loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine. Prime Minister Rob Jetten calls it “a very important step” now that the support package, after months of blockage, has been definitively approved. According to Jetten, the financial support is
Europe & EU
The Dutch cabinet wants to reduce the country’s digital dependence on the United States and place a stronger focus on European data and cloud infrastructure. The Netherlands does not want to be steered by American pressure, writes the Minister for the Digital Economy and Sovereignty, Willemijn Aerdts, in answers
Europe & EU
For years, Dutch politics has talked about tightening asylum policy. That made the political blow all the more painful when a key asylum bill was rejected in the Senate. While parties are busily blaming one another, the defeat represents not only a substantive setback for the minority cabinet, but also