Evaluation of Dutch influence on policy in the EU – Oversight through insight

The Netherlands is one of the 27 Member States of the European Union. Together, they decide on new European legislation, regulations and policy. Many European laws and regulations are directly applicable and take precedence over national laws. In practice, the EU operates as an independent tier of governance in the Netherlands, alongside the state, provinces and municipalities. All Member States, including the Netherlands, try to promote their interests as effectively as possible in the development of European policy. In this game of give and take, influence plays a vital role in this process.