Policy Updates

On April 12, 2024, the Royal House of the Netherlands announced that as of April 15, 2024, Liesje Schreinemacher will return from maternity leave and resume her role as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Schreinemacher started her maternity leave on December 4, 2023. Since then, Geoffrey van Leeuwen has temporarily taken on the role of Minister.

On April 12, 2024, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the Netherlands will make another EUR1.4 billion (US$1.5 billion) available this year to support Ukraine against Russia’s attacks and its recovery efforts.

Rutte announced that EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) will be available for military support and EUR400 million (US$435 million) to bolster Ukraine’s economy and for vital repairs to energy infrastructure.

This commitment is in addition to the EUR2 billion (US$2.2 billion) that the Netherlands committed to Ukraine in the form of a guarantee on February 9, 2024.

Rutte further stated that the Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and Finance agreed to make EUR3 billion (US$3.3 billion) available for military support in 2025.

On April 11, 2024, development association Partos criticized the newly released 2023 Dutch ODA numbers published by the OECD and argued for more stable, predictable ODA to help achieve the SDGs.

Partos noted that the Netherlands does not meet the internationally agreed-upon norm of 0.7% ODA/GNI. In addition, the numbers show that in 2023, 17.7% of the Dutch ODA went towards hosting asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

Partos argued that with this approach to ODA, the Netherlands risks its international reputation, influence, and economic interests, as they consider development cooperation essential to creating trust and positive relationships with other countries. The organization noted that without sufficient, stable funding, the Netherlands is unlikely to reach its development objectives.

Partos called on four political parties that are currently negotiating to form a new government coalition: the nationalist, right-wing populist PVV, the conservative-liberal VVD, the Christian Democratic NSC, and the right-wing populist BBB. Partos advocated that these parties to strengthen the Netherlands’ position in international fora and ensure a stable and predictable ODA to contribute to a world with equal opportunities and stability for all.

On April 4, 2024, the Dutch House of Representatives debated the Dutch Global Health Strategy, 18 months post-publication. Despite recent development budget cuts, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Geoffrey van Leeuwen and Minister for Medical Care Pia Dijkstra affirmed broad support for the strategy.

The strategy aims to strengthen global health systems, tackle health impacts of climate change, and prepare against future pandemics. CSOs and members of Parliament expressed concerns in relation to the previously announced development budget cuts of EUR3.5 billion (US$3.8 billion) over 2023-2026, as detrimental to effective implementation of the strategy.

van Leeuwen and Dijkstra reiterated their commitment to the strategy, emphasizing the strategy’s broader goals, including safeguarding the Netherlands’ own health and economic stability.

Emphasis during the debate centered on sexual health and SRHR and access to basic health care to uphold human rights and gender equality, urging sustained strategic partnerships. Focusing on access to medicines, Dijkstra agreed to re-examine the Socially Responsible Licensing toolkit to include how private companies can enhance accessibility and affordability of medicines for people in low-income countries.

Members of Parliament inquired about strategy implementation and monitoring. van Leeuwen committed to providing progress reports to the House of Representatives by year-end, along with policy coherence updates on the Dutch Global Health Strategy and ecological footprint reduction commitments by May 15, 2024.

On April 2, 2024, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the European Commission hosted the international Restoring Justice for Ukraine conference in The Hague. Ministers from 57 countries reviewed progress in investigating and prosecuting Russian crimes, pledging to compensate victims.

The conference accessed the efforts of over 60 countries in the past two years towards achieving justice. The same day, the Register of Damage for Ukraine opened for claim submissions. In her closing remarks, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot announced that more than 100 claims were filed.

The Netherlands spearheaded advancements on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan, garnering a political declaration from 44 countries to intensify joint efforts for justice and pursue the establishment of a special tribunal.

The Netherlands has committed EUR10 million (US$11 million) to support Ukraine with investigation and prosecution of war crimes. Minister Bruins Slot additionally expressed willingness for the Netherlands to conditionally host the special tribunal, facilitating a mechanism for war damages compensation.

On March 28, 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs committed EUR50 million (US$54 million) for the launch of PROSPECTS 2.0 in Kenya to promote socio-economic integration between refugees and host communities in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, Dabaab, and urban areas.

The project marks phase 2, spanning from 2024-2027, of the original PROSPECTS Partnership initiated by the Netherlands in 2019. According to the International Finance Corporation Africa, PROSPECTS 2 will focus on four key areas:

• Education and learning;
• Economic inclusion;
• Child protection and social protection; and
• Critical infrastructure.

This partnership involves partners from the humanitarian, development, and private sectors, including the World Bank, UNHCR, UNRWA, UNICEF, ILO, the Government of Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and the County Governments of Turkana and Garissa.

From March 26-March 28, 2024, the Netherlands and the UN held the first International Conference of Prosecutors on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot emphasized that this topic is a priority for Dutch feminist foreign policy. Bruins Slot opened the conference with UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten. In her speech, Bruins Slot noted how sexual violence is used as a weapon of war in many conflicts, like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Israel, Ukraine, Haiti, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, and Iraq. Yet, ensuring accountability for such crimes remains difficult, underscoring the need for partnerships with other countries and organizations like the ICC.

Public prosecutors from more than 50 countries attended the conference to support efforts to research and prosecute conflict-related sexual violence. The conference marked the start of a 'community of practice' to further expand the collaboration.

On March 20, 2024, the EU and the Belgian Council presidency announced a joint contribution of EUR14 million (US$15 million) for the African Medicines Agency and launched three global health partnership programs.

The support, announced at the high-level event on EU – AU partnership on Global Health for equitable access, comprised EUR10 million (US$11 million) from the Commission and EUR4 million (US$4 million) from Belgium. The support aims to advance the establishment of the African Medicines Agency, particularly as an end to strengthening vaccine production and health innovation.

In addition, the event marked the launch of three Team Europe initiatives on:

• Sustainable Health Security, which aims to increase PPR among African partner countries, with a specific focus on AMR and other infectious diseases, and will receive EUR128 million (US$129 million) from the 2021-2027 budget;
• Support to Public Health Institutes in Africa, which aims to bolster UHC and reduce health access inequalities and received an allocation of EUR50 million (US$54 million) from 2024-2027; and
• Digital Health, focusing on reducing health disparities and advancing UHC and PPR through technological and practical innovation, which received EUR87 million (US$94 million) from 2024-2027.

On March 20, 2024, the Dutch House of Representatives debated the final report of former informant Kim Putters, discussed next steps for government formation, and appointed two new informants to explore the potential establishment of a ‘program cabinet’ based on shared agreements among the four negotiating political parties ( PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.

Putters submitted his report on March 14, 2024, concluding that there is insufficient support among the four key political parties- the nationalist, right-wing populist PVV, the conservative-liberal VVD, the Christian Democratic NSC, and the right-wing populist BBB- to form a traditional majority or minority cabinet. Instead, there is backing for a ‘program cabinet’ where the four party leaders outline key objectives and financial parameters, which will then be fleshed out by the new cabinet ministers. Putters suggested a composition of 50% experienced politicians and 50% individuals less involved in politics to enhance public trust. None of the party leaders will assume the Prime Minister position, for which candidates will be determined later.

Putters recommends that the next informants assess the feasibility of this program cabinet, including the possibility of shared agreements among the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB. This marked a shift to substantive negotiations in the government formation process.

On March 20, 2024, the House of Representatives approved a motion by PVV leader Geert Wilders to appoint two new informants: Elbert Dijkgraaf, economist and former member of parliament for the Dutch Reformed Political Party, and Richard van Zwol, State Councillor and former top civil servant. They are expected to complete their task within 8 weeks.

On March 19, 2024, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Geoffrey van Leeuwen announced that the Netherlands will contribute EUR10 million (US$11 million) to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza by sea.

Van Leeuwen announced this during a visit to the port of Larnaca in Cyprus. The Dutch contribution will go into a fund that will be set up by the United Nations, Cyprus, the European Union, the United States, and other international partners.

Van Leeuwen stated that while delivery via lanf routes was the most effective way to get shipments to Gaza, but that the international community would explore other options in light of the critical need.

Annually, the Netherlands directly provides EUR51 million (US$55 million) for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. Since the start of the conflict in October 2023, the Dutch government has pledged an additional EUR56 million (US$61 million) to this sum.