25 January 2019

POLITICO: Dutch set out EU goals for 2019

That goal is among the highlights of a 56-page letter sent by Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok to the parliament in The Hague on Friday, titled: "State of the European Union 2019."

The document effectively lays out the pillars of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's EU strategy ahead of the European Parliament election in May, and looks ahead to the formation of a new European Commission next fall. And it comes at a time when Rutte is gaining prominence as a voice for liberal economic policies and as EU leaders are gearing up for a vigorous debate about the bloc's future, including at a special summit in Sibiu, Romania on May 9.

In his letter, Blok says the Netherlands would step up its diplomatic efforts across Europe and in Brussels and plans to ramp up the budget allotment for diplomatic missions by €10 million a year. In addition, it wants to use a "government-wide strategic personnel policy" to place Dutch people in important positions within the EU institutions, Blok writes.

The Netherlands is among the EU countries most worried about the political impact of Brexit, given the avowed mercantilist outlook that it has long shared with Britain. And Rutte has positioned himself, including in a speech last year in Berlin, as a strong voice against unchecked European federalism, arguing that the EU should demonstrate that it can deliver on its basic promises, and that Brussels serves the member countries, not the other way around, with power firmly rooted in the national capitals.

In the letter to parliament on Friday, Blok writes that the Netherlands is well-placed to take on a more influential role in the EU.

"More than in the past, an appeal will be made to the Dutch ability to operate in a connecting and dynamic manner," he writes. "Our starting position is good. Germany and France in particular regard the Netherlands as a serious discussion partner." [...]

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