The government hopes that the Netherlands will provide a Commissioner for the Economy in the new European Commission. Prime Minister Schoff explained this in the weekly interview on the NOS radio programme. In the eye of tomorrow.

Earlier this week, Schöff was in Brussels on preliminary visits and spoke to Commission President von der Leyen, among others. After that meeting, he said the Netherlands was not interested in the vice-presidency position.

On Friday evening, Schoff repeated this on the radio, and according to him it was a matter of realism: “After the vice-presidency we had in the previous period with Frans Timmermans, it is not realistic to assume that. It simply does not happen.” In those circular functions, then it is not the role of the Netherlands. Timmermans’ successor Hoekstra was also present No more vice president.

But the prime minister also said in Brussels that the Netherlands was “too important to be content with a small position”. According to Schoff, the cabinet wants a heavyweight position, preferably one “related to the economy”. Contact NOS with an eye on tomorrow Industrial policy, the internal market and competition are likely topics. “These are important elements for the Netherlands, they are important for the economy and trade.”

According to the prime minister, several people have already expressed interest in the post of European Commissioner, but he did not mention any names. Schoff said he had to keep an overview of the various boards and that tactics were needed to reach the right person at the right time. “This should happen in the coming weeks.”