Policy Updates

On September 25, 2024, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Reinette Klever announced a EUR3 million (US$3 million) contribution to UNICEF for emergency food assistance to children in Gaza.

These funds were originally reserved for UNRWA in a letter of June, 2024, but have been redirected to UNICEF due to the food crisis in Gaza.

This shift also aims to lessen Gaza’s reliance on UNRWA for humanitarian assistance, though the Netherlands will continue its regular UNRWA contributions in January as agreed for 2023-2025.

On September 17, 2024, the Dutch government announced a EUR3.6 billion (US$3.9 billion) total budget for the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Assistance and saw EUR300 million (US$300 million) in cuts from the 2025 development budget.

The funding cuts, outlined in the May 2024 Coalition agreement, includes reversing planned cuts to the Dutch diplomatic network from 22% to 10%, with the shortfall financed from the development budget. Key areas like water management, food security, and health remain prioritized.

A new sub-article for Foreign Trade consolidates support for Ukraine, allocating EUR252 million (US$274 million) to humanitarian and infrastructure support and EUR60 million (US$65 million) for humanitarian demining in 2025.

Additionally, the new government will no longer tie the development budget to the size of the Dutch economy, ending the practice of allocating 0.7% of GNI, as per OECD guidelines.

On September 13, 2024, the Dutch cabinet published its government program, expanding on the coalition’s government agreement published in May 2024 and confirmed substantial cuts to ODA.

The program referenced development assistance only four times in 138 pages. The program reduced the planned budget cut for embassies and consulates from 22% to 10%, which is expected to be funded by ODA.

The cabinet emphasized prioritizing development areas where the Netherlands has expertise and a vested economic interest, such as water management and food security, with no mention of global health or SRHR. Broader foreign policy focused on migration partnerships and support for Ukraine.

The exact budget lines for 2025 and upcoming years will be released on September 17, 2024.

On September 9, 2024, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Reinette Klever announced that the Netherlands will contribute EUR3 million (US$3 million) to the WHO for mpox vaccination campaigns in Africa.

The decision followed Dutch Minister for Health, Welfare, and Sport Fleur Agema’s refusal to send vaccines, citing the need to retain the national stockpile of 100,000 doses.

On September 10, 2024, Agema further explained that other countries are already supplying the 4 million doses required by the WHO, but supported the financial contribution to enhance vaccine transport, testing capacity, and staff training.

On September 2, 2024, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Reinette Klever announced that the Netherlands will provide another EUR210 million (US$228 million) to support Ukraine with its energy infrastructureafter damagee caused by Russian attacks.

Based on a visit to Ukraine by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs in June 2024, three additional support initiatives worth EUR95 million (US$103 million) were identified:

• EUR30 million (US$32 million) for gas turbines via the EBRD and in collaboration with energy companies;
• EUR20 million (US$22 million) for in-kind material supplies; and
• EUR45 million (US$49 million) through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

The government will also continue to support initiatives in 2025:

• EUR55 million (US$60 million) for infrastructure repairs via the URTF;
• EUR25 million (US$27 million) for humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support via UNOCHA’s Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, the ICRC, and WHO;
• EUR10 million (US$11 million) for demining operations; and
• EUR5 million (US$5 million) towards technical assistance for Ukrainian Ministry of Finance’s financial-economic reform program.

This fund allocation requires adjustments to the 2024 and 2025 budgets for the Dutch Ministry of Affairs and the development budget, which will be reflected in the supplemental budget and 2025 budget.

On August 30, 2024, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced that the cabinet has reached an agreement on the 2025 budget, and is supported by the four coalition parties - PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.

The cabinet’s first budget will follow the coalition agreement published in May 2024, which outlined significant budget cuts to the civil service and international development cooperations. The budget will be reviewed by the Council of State and officially presented on September 17, 2024.

On August 23, 2024, Schoof revealed that the cabinet will release its detailed government agreement the week before the release of the budget. The agreement will elaborate on the coalition agreement and provide the specific objectives, plans, approaches, and resources of the new Dutch cabinet.

On August 29, 2024, Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport Fleur Agema announced that the Netherlands will not donate vaccines to combat the mpox virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.

Despite the WHO’s call for international support after declaring the outbreak of an international public health emergency on August 14, 2024, the Netherlands will retain its 100,000-dose stockpile, following advice from the RIVM. Agema stated she will reconsider after the arrival of a new shipment of vaccines in early 2025.

NGO Oxfam Novib criticized the decision as short-sighted, noting there are no current cases in the Netherlands and much of the stockpile expires in September 2025.

On July 25, 2024, the Dutch government signed an agreement with UNAIDS to contribute US$2 million.

Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima thanked the Dutch government and the people of the Netherlands for standing beside people at risk of and who are living with HIV/AIDS.

On July 23, 2024, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced the nomination of Wopke Hoekstra for another term in the European Commission (2024-2029).

Schoof emphasized the importance of continuity and experience in the Commission when communicating the renomination to the Dutch House of Representatives. EU Commissioners for 2024-2029 are expected to be approved by the European Parliament in October 2024 and to start their term in November 2024.

Hoekstra has been serving as an EU Commissioner for the European Green Deal since October 5, 2023. Prior to this, he served as the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Prime Minister until September 2023.

On July 6 and 7, 2024, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans visited Ukraine, announcing a total contribution of EUR16 million (US$17million) to support research and fact-finding efforts.

The Netherlands is slated to provide EUR2 million (US$2 million) to enhance Ukraine’s forensic research capacity via the ICMP, EUR8 million (US$9 million) over two years for the UNHR Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and EUR6 million (US$7 million) for a forensic mobile lab to assist with research.