Results – Evaluation of Dutch influence on policy in the European Union
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. Before the EU decides on policies, laws and regulations, the Netherlands negotiates with the 26 other Member States and the EU institutions on the proposal in question. In this game of give and take, the Netherlands tries to represent its national interests as well as possible. Influence plays a vital role in this process.
This evaluation examines the influence of the Netherlands on the European policymaking process – specifically, the extent to which Dutch policy preferences have been successfully translated into European decisions through strategic actions and interventions.
Dutch advocacy in the European Union
Conclusions
The IOB concludes that during the period under review, from 2016 to 2023, the Netherlands had considerable influence on EU policy compared to other EU Member States. The Netherlands regularly punched above its weight. This was partly due to:
- its solid contribution of expertise and experience
- the active and bridging role the Netherlands played within effective coalitions, as well as its proactive efforts to build new partnerships
- the prime minister’s engagement at the highest political level within the EU
- a strong Dutch Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels
The Netherlands’ image fluctuated over time and varied according to the dossier, but it was generally perceived as competent, pragmatic, clear, well-organised, reliable in EU negotiations and, in certain areas, constructive.
This positive outcome is no guarantee for the future. Developments both domestically and in the European and wider geopolitical context can either help or hinder Dutch influence in the European Union.
Recommendations
If the Cabinet wants to maintain or strengthen the Netherlands’ accumulated influence in the EU, IOB believes that it should invest in:
- increased awareness and knowledge at all levels of government and politics about the EU as the fourth tier of governance in Dutch public administration and how it works
- strengthening networks and relationships at home and in the EU, and
- more proactive political and administrative guidance
This should be achieved while maintaining the strengths already mentioned. To compensate for the departure of the influential prime minister, it is important to safeguard administrative support at the highest political level within the EU.
Research design
The methodological design of the evaluation is visualised in figure 2. In addition to that, the IOB cooperated with EU-experts of Dutch knowledge institutions and universities which resulted in literature studies and cases studies, published in Dutch:
The evaluation of the Dutch influence on EU policy builds on the evaluation of the Dutch EU coordination, published in 2021. That evaluation looked into the Dutch process of position-taking on EU policy and, in particular, the role played in it by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It focused on the time period 2016-2021.
