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NL Policy coherence: Still not a central part of the 2022 state budget
Last Tuesday was Budget Day, the day when the Cabinet traditionally presents the budget for the next year. Due to its caretaker status, the Cabinet was forced to present a policy-poor budget. This was not only reflected in the speech from the throne full of hollow words, but also reflected in the budget for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (BHOS), where the 0.7% norm, the spending of 0.7% of GNI on development cooperation, is once again not met and remains stuck at 0.53%.
Letter to the informateur: International solidarity in the coalition agreement
The Hague, 23 June 2021
The corona crisis has once again demonstrated our global dependency. This calls for our solidarity. We must now commit to a sustainable global recovery. That means tackling growing inequality with the aim of a better future for future generations. This requires ambitious international policies. OS has a crucial role in tackling climate change and promoting democracy, human rights and fair trade systems. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide this nationally and internationally.
Critical SDG Spotlight report 'Beyond Boundlessness' well received
On 1 March, the (online) launch of the first Dutch SDG Spotlight report took place. In it, Dutch policy on SDG 10 (reduce inequality) and SDG 15 (life on land, biodiversity) are critically scrutinised. The results are downright uncomfortable. The frame that the Netherlands is 'doing well' with the SDGs is not correct.
Online climate summit in the Netherlands: biggest problem remains unsolved
Last week, the Netherlands hosted the first ever Climate Adaptation Summit: a meeting with world leaders, companies and organisations on climate adaptation. Good steps were taken, but a critical look at results of the summit reveals that the biggest problem - climate finance - remains unsolved.
Genocide against the Uighurs: where are the sanctions?
Between one and three million Uighurs are currently detained in Chinese concentration camps in appalling conditions. They undergo torture that cannot bear the light of day. The millions of Uighurs outside the camps are also severely repressed and in constant danger. And it doesn't stop at China's borders, as the Uyghur diaspora is under constant surveillance beyond, including in the Netherlands. While this crime against humanity has been going on for years, hardly any countries have introduced sanctions against the Chinese government. Even the Netherlands has not taken any action so far.
How a bunch of simple questions can make Dutch politics more sustainable ánd fairer
Properly implementing the SDG test in new Dutch policies and regulations is very simple and can have a huge positive impact on developing countries and gender equality. Yet 95% of relevant policies and regulations do not apply the test properly, such as the Invest International bill, which will be debated in the House of Representatives on Monday.
Shell is no longer a small child
Now two months ago, Lammert van Raan of the Party for the Animals asked 25 highly critical parliamentary questions to Finance Minister Hoekstra and Economic Affairs and Climate Minister Wiebes about the questionable climate plans of oil and gas companies. Minister Wiebes took a long time to answer. When it finally came, the minister turned out to be an excellent spokesperson for Shell and a champion at dodging questions and thus responsibilities.
Political Leadership (series) part 2: types of leaders
The elections in the Netherlands are approaching. 17 March 2021 is the date. The FMS is conducting training courses in many countries. Political leadership is an important topic. What is involved in leadership? This series covers various aspects of it.
By Arjen Berkvens, director FMS
Political leadership (series) part 1: struggle
The elections in the Netherlands are approaching. 17 March 2021 is the date. The FMS is conducting training courses in many countries. Political leadership is an important topic. What is involved in leadership? This series covers various aspects of it.
By Arjen Berkvens, director FMS
Time for a fair tax policy
Tax avoidance by multinationals is currently in the spotlight. Booking.com, for instance, recently announced that it was invoking emergency aid from the Dutch state, while until recently it was making billions in profits and paying little tax on them. A political and social debate that has of course been going on for some time. Hence the request from the Lower House (following Omtzigt's motion) for the Advisory Committee on Multinational Taxation to investigate how the Netherlands can make taxation of multinationals fairer. This resulted in the report 'Towards balance in corporate taxation' with various recommendations and advice. On the positive side, it contains a clear call for the Netherlands to make constructive international efforts to really tackle tax avoidance. It is unfortunate, however, that the report pays very little attention to the role of the Netherlands as a tax haven.
