Dutch review attacks ‘creeping’ EU powers

Series Title
Series Details 21.06.13
Publication Date 21/06/2013
Content Type

The Netherlands government was convinced that the time of an ‘ever closer union’ in every possible policy area amongst the Member States of the EU was behind us. This was the Dutch government's message in a letter on the outcome of the ‘subsidiarity review’, presented to the Dutch parliament by foreign minister Frans Timmermans on the 21 June 2013.

According to the government, this was an issue which struck a chord with many people across Europe. With this initiative, the Netherlands aimed to initiate a process in the EU, based on the principle: ‘European where necessary, national where possible’. It called for a European Union that was more modest, more sober and at the same time more effective.

The Dutch government initiative was similar to the UK government's 'balance of competences' review, aimed at assessing where EU powers may extend too far.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/institutional/120602
Related Links
BBC News, 21.06.13: Dutch government review criticises EU powers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23005499
The Netherlands: Government: News, 21.06.13: European where necessary, national where possible http://www.government.nl/news/2013/06/21/european-where-necessary-national-where-possible.html
ESO: Background information: Review of the Balance of Competences http://www.europeansources.info/record/review-of-the-balance-of-competences/
Blog: Open Europe, 21.06.13: Dutch government: "Time of ‘ever closer union’ in every possible area is behind us” http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/dutch-government-time-of-ever-closer.html
Open Europe: Testing European legislation for subsidiarity and proportionality – Dutch list of points for action, June 2013 http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content/Documents/EN-vertaling_eindrapportage_DEFINITIEF.pdf
DutchNews.nl, 21.06.13: Leave school milk, health and safety up to us, Dutch tell Brussels http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/06/leave_school_milk_health_and_s.php
EurActiv, 25.06.13: Dutch ‘subsidiarity review’ strikes a chord with UK euro critics http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/dutch-subsidiarity-review-strike-news-528833
Blog: The Economist: Charlemagne, 25.06.13: The Netherlands and the EU. Where Brussels mustn't go http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2013/06/netherlands-and-eu

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions ,