COUNTRY FOCUS
THE NETHERLANDS AND EU
POLICY AREAS
T
he major EU policy areas are of critical importance to
the Netherlands. They include security, development
cooperation, fi nance, transport and agriculture. This is
why the EU policy is often a model for Dutch policy.
Foreign and Security Policy
The European Union has a Common Foreign and
Security Policy. Speaking in a single voice gives the EU
greater weightage in the world. In principle, this is also to
the advantage of the Netherlands. Therefore, the Netherlands
does what it can to maximise its infl uence, so that our interests
make it onto the agenda. The Netherlands has a direct interest
in international stability and security, energy and resource
security and the international legal order. These are also
policy areas to which we can contribute specifi c knowledge,
for example in the fi eld of water management.
The EU is also active in military peacekeeping and
reconstruction operations in war-torn countries, for example,
the missions in Bosnia and Kosovo and the police mission
in Afghanistan.
Development cooperation
The EU is active in development cooperation. Together, its
member states constitute the world’s largest source of aid. The
Netherlands believes that aid should go to the poorest people
in the poorest countries. Countries capable of funding their
own development should no longer be eligible for traditional
aid. The Netherlands also feels that good governance and
respect for human rights should be key considerations in
deciding whether to provide European aid.
The EU provides humanitarian aid through the European
Community Humanitarian Offi ce (ECHO).
Financial and monetary policy
Most EU countries have allowed their national debt and
budget defi cits to rise to unsustainable levels. This poses risks
to the European economy and the stability of the euro. Stricter
rules and reforms must be introduced to improve the situation
in the EU and prevent a new European crisis.
The Netherlands is closely involved in the European
approach to solving the debt crisis. At various European
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida • 23