Divided at the Top: Leaked Cabinet Papers Reveal EU Policy Chasm

Agriculture and migration

By Fons Lambie · 3 minutes ago · Edited: 3 minutes ago

RTL

The government’s plans for agriculture and migration conflict with European legislation and agreements. This is evident from an internal document of the House of Representatives, in the hands of the political editors of RTL News. The Netherlands’ position not to expand the EU and to pay less also gives civil servants little chance. “Half of the coalition agreement can already be thrown in the trash bin,” according to D66 MP Jan Paternotte.

Officials of the House of Representatives advise the various Members of Parliament on EU legislation. They examined the government program for European legislation, agreements and the state of affairs in European politics.

Migration

The government wants to introduce the strictest asylum policy ever. “A number of the proposed measures appear to be lawful, but some are not,” officials write. “For example, suspending the processing of asylum applications is not permitted under EU law.” For example, family reunification can be restricted under EU rules.

The government wants to take emergency measures by declaring an asylum crisis with crisis legislation, but each measure must be ‘assessed separately’, officials warn. An ‘opt-out’, a permanent exception to EU agreements, also does not seem to work. “There is no prospect that the EU will negotiate a revision of the treaties in the foreseeable future.”

Support from Brussels

The plans in the areas of housing, labor migration and nuclear energy can count on support in Brussels. Dutch plans are also in line with the European course in the areas of defense and justice.

“The Netherlands seems to be isolated with its critical attitude.”

The Netherlands is in danger of standing alone on other points. The government is ‘very critical’ of the expansion of the European Union. There are several countries that want to become members, such as Ukraine and several countries in the Western Balkans. “The Netherlands seems to be isolated with its critical attitude,” officials write. Other member states, the European Parliament and the Commission do want to expand.

The government also wants to pay less to Brussels, the European budget must not grow and the EU must not incur new debts. It is ‘very questionable whether this is feasible’ if the government wants to regulate all these points in the new European budget.

The government is not without a chance in negotiations about expansion and the new budget: the Netherlands can threaten with a veto.

Officials also see difficulties with agricultural plans. For example, the cabinet wants a derogation (exception) from the nitrate directive, the regulations for water quality and manure. “A new derogation seems more difficult,” it says, because it is highly questionable whether all member states and the European Commission will grant a new exception to the Netherlands.

The government also wants to adjust the European nature goals. “A revision (….) is not expected,” the experts said. The cabinet also wants to reintroduce pulse fishing. This is now a prohibited method in which fish are startled with electric shocks and driven into the net. In the most recent documents, from both the Commission and the European Commissioner, pulse fishing is not even mentioned, officials warn.

“This was what many experts had already warned about: half of the coalition agreement can already be thrown in the trash, because it does not fit in with the rules that we agreed on together,” says D66 MP Jan Paternotte. “This does not work in a larger context with 27 countries. Then you are constantly playing the wild card. This does not serve Dutch interests.”

Prime Minister Schoof will have his first official EU summit next week. During his introductory visit to Brussels, the Prime Minister acknowledged that not all plans can be implemented. “We are going to fight 100 percent, but we do not guarantee 100 percent results. But we do give 100 percent effort,” said Schoof.

Watch the video of Schoof in Brussels here: