Policy Updates

On June 26, 2024, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was officially appointed the next Secretary-General of NATO, to succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, 2024.

Rutte received unanimous endorsement from all 32 NATO member states, after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew his candidacy the week prior. Known for his strong support of Ukraine and criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rutte is a significant figure in European politics. He began gathering support for his candidacy in late 2023.

Rutte will complete his duties as outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands on July 2, 2024, and will be succeeded by Dick Schoof.

On June 25, 2024, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a motion by Sarah Dobbe ( SP) and co-sponsors to enhance support and protection for women human rights defenders.

The motion, supported by 144 out of 150 votes from multiple parties, including PVV, VVD, and BBB, highlighted gaps in the Netherlands’ current human rights policy.

Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot has typically opposed motions aligning with existing policy, but supported the motion due to the worsening global situation for women.

On June 13, 2024, the Netherlands announced the distribution of its cabinet posts, including the creation of three new ministries: Asylum and Migration, Housing and Spatial Planning, and Climate and Green Growth.

The Dutch government also renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will become the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance. These changes are meant to mirror the new government’s priorities.

The PVV was allocated five ministers, the VVD and NSC four, and the BBB two. Designated Prime Minister Dick Schoof does not represent any party.

Ministerial appointments with relevance to development included:

• Minister of Climate and Green Growth: Sophie Hermans ( VVD);
• Minister of Finance: Eelco Heinen ( VVD);
• Minister of Economic Affairs: Dirk Beljaarts ( PVV);
• Minister of Agriculture: Femke Wiersma ( BBB);
• Minister of Education: Eppo Bruins ( NSC, CU);
• Minister of Asylum and Migration: Marjolein Faber ( PVV);
• Minister of Health: Fleur Agema ( PVV);
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Caspar Veldkamp ( NSC); and
• Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance: Reinette Klever ( PVV).

The PVV’s Ministers for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Reinette Klever and Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber sparked controversy due to past statements regarding omvolking, or the ‘replacement theory’. Faber and Klever distanced themselves from past use of the term but reiterated concerns about demographic change.

Candidate ministers and secretaries will present themselves in public hearings to the House of Representatives. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on July 2, 2024.

On June 10, 2024, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher announced that the Netherlands will provide another EUR13 million (US$14 million) for humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

EUR10 million (US$11 million) was allocated to directly supporting organizations, including:

• EUR3 million (US$3 million) to the WHO for medical support and early warning for disease outbreaks;
• EUR4 million (US$4 million) to the ILO's Emergency Response Plan to improve the socio-economic situation in the Palestinian Terrorities; and
• EUR3 million (US$3 million) to the ICRC for trauma support, negotiating to release hostages, and family reunification.

EUR3 million (US$3 million) was reserved for UNWRA, to be made available when the organization has implemented the recent independent research report’s recommendations to improve neutrality concerns.

On June 11, 2024, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot spoke at a conference about Gaza in Jordan. She mentioned the new contributions, as well as the EUR20 million (US$22 million) already set aside by the Dutch government for early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. She urged all parties to enact an immediate ceasefire in line with the UN's security resolution.

On June 7, 2024, Dutch national Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen was re-elected to CEDAW for the 2025-2028 term.

Dettmeijer-Vermeulen served her first term as member of the CEDAW from 2021-2024. The Dutch government nominated her for re-election, which the 189 CEDAW State Parties supported in New York, US.

During her first term, Dettmeijer-Vermeulen held the roles of Vice-chair and later Chair of CEDAW Working Group on Communications. She also joined the Working Group on Working Methods and the Working Group on Gender Stereotyping.

CEDAW consists of 23 members, who are independent experts that monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The convention has opposed the effects of discrimination, including violence, poverty, lack of legal protections, the denial of inheritance, property rights, and access to credit.

On June 7, 2024, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher outlined the Netherlands’ recovery and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine for 2024.

The Spring Budget, published on April 15, 2024, announced that the Netherlands would provide a total of EUR4.4 billion (US$4.8 billion) to Ukraine for 2024-2026. Of this, EUR148 million (US$161 million) will go to recovery and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in 2024 and EUR252 million (US$274 million) in 2025.

Schreinemacher specified the allocations for 2024 as:

• EUR58 million (US$65 million) via the World Bank to the URTF for infrastructure repair;
• EUR33 million (US$35 million) for the second round of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s UPF for collaboration with Dutch businesses on reconstruction;
• EUR20 million (US$22 million) via the EBRD for the Ukrainian energy sector;
• EUR15 million (US$16 million) via the ICRC for humanitarian assistance;
• EUR10 million (US$11 million) via FMO to support Ukraine’s private sector;
• EUR3 million (US$3 million) for civil society organizations providing support in Ukraine; and
• EUR10 million (US$11 million) reserved for emerging needs.

The recovery and humanitarian assistance allocations for 2025 will be announced on Budget Day, on September 17, 2024, as part of the 2025 Annual Budget.

On May 28, 2024, the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean countries, including Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, created a joint climate agenda to address climate change which focuses on enhancing cooperation, financing, and knowledge sharing.

Key areas include expanding solar and wind energy, reducing fossil fuel use, and improving water management systems. Each island will develop specific climate plans, supported by Dutch funding.

The second Caribbean Climate and Energy Conference will be hosted by Curaçao and the Netherlands in October 2024 to further progress and cooperation in the region.

On May 28, 2024, government formator Richard van Zwol announced during that Secretary-General at the Ministry of Justice and Security Dick Schoof has been nominated to become the next Dutch Prime Minister.

Schoof’s nomination follows a coalition agreement involving Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV, the liberal VVD, the conservative NSC, and the farmers’ party BBB.

Schoof, with extensive experience in public administration and as the former head of the Dutch intelligence agency, is considered a surprising choice, given his non-affiliation with any political party and lack of political experience. Previously, he was associated with the social-democratic PvdA for 30 years before leaving in 2019.

Despite the PVV's significant electoral victory in November 2023, Wilders chose not to become prime minister, possibly due to the contentious nature of his anti-Islam and anti- EU positions that could limit coalition potential. Schoof's coalition government plans to implement some of Wilders' radical policies, including stringent immigration controls. However, Schoof has emphasized his aim to be a prime minister for all Dutch citizens.

The candidate prime minister and ministers will present themselves in hearings before the House of Representatives before being sworn in by the King. The cabinet is expected to be formed within the next four weeks.

On May 16, 2024, the four Dutch coalition negotiating parties– PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB - agreed to an outline agreement titled Hope, Courage, and Pride, stating that the new Dutch government will cut two-thirds of the current development budget over 2025-2027, or EUR5.9 billion (US$6.4 billion) over the period.

The outline focuses on ten key areas, primarily concerning improving Dutch citizens' livelihoods and social well-being and restricting asylum seekers and migration. The outline states that the Netherlands will contribute to food security and water management in other countries to improve stability, as well as support the regional hosting of asylum seekers to prevent further migration to the Netherlands.

The cuts are slated to start with EUR350 million (US$380 million) in 2025, increasing to EUR550 million (US$598 million) in 2026, and reaching EUR2.5 billion (US$2.7 billion) annually from 2027.

Opposition GroenLinks MP Danielle Hirsch contrasted the cuts with the statement's assertion that the Netherlands is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Eleven development organizations in the Netherlands released a statement expressing their disapproval and concerns about these unprecedented cuts. Partos asserted that these cuts will damage the Netherlands’ international standing and interests. It calls on the coalition to avoid these cuts and continue investing in international cooperation.

Informants van Zwol and Dijkgraaf completed their task with the outline agreement. and recommended appointing van Zwol as the next formator. Van Zwol expects to appoint ministers and state secretaries within four to five weeks to form the new cabinet and flesh out the outline agreement.

On May 10, 2024, USAID joined the AU Commissioner and 14 other partners in a statement of support for the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan at an AU-led soil health summit.

The US also announced US$40 million for the Space in Place approach, which is meant to support farmers with geospatial data and knowledge to ensure the best use of fertilizer for more nutritious foods.

Others joining the statement included the ADB, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, France, the World Bank, France, Canada, the EU, Germany, the Netherlands, the Rockefeller Foundation, Germany, and the UK. Commitments included improved investment policies, more access to fertilizers, enhancing soil inputs and interventions, and building capacity for soil health and fertilizer management.