Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) delivered a tough message to the new coalition in his final debate. The PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB will soon play a leading role in appointing a new European Commissioner, but this Commissioner is not meant to defend the interests of the Netherlands or these four parties, according to Rutte. He thus rejected a proposal from the NSC and BBB.
With Dick Schoof’s government not on the podium until next week, Rutte will travel to Brussels again as (outgoing) prime minister on Thursday for the euro summit. He and other government leaders will be fully involved in the political ball rolling around the formation of the new European Commission. Each member state nominates one commissioner.
National Security Council leader Peter Umtsigt urged Rutte on Tuesday evening, in the parliamentary debate that preceded the euro summit, that the Netherlands search for a European commissioner who “broadly supports the main points of the Main Lines Agreement on European policy.” As examples, Umtsigt cited opposition to entering into common European debt and support for the agricultural policy and asylum clause of the recently concluded coalition agreement.
When asked in the debate, BBB MP Henk Vermeer said he thought it was reasonable to expect the new European Commissioner to “defend the interests of the Netherlands”.
Never instructed
Part of the future opposition did not like the desire of the two new coalition parties. Henri Bontenball (CDA) pointed out that the European Commissioner serves five years, which is longer than the term of the Council of Ministers. “Isn’t it strange that the European Commissioner signs an agreement from a country, while the European Commissioner has to implement the European Commission’s programme?”
Volt leader Laurence Dassin described Omtzigt’s proposal as “very unwise”. D66’s Jean Patenot was also critical. “Does he now want someone outside the House to have to abide by the main agreement?” he asked.
Ruti shared this criticism. “He is not the Dutch Commissioner. The Prime Minister said that the Commissioner was the one nominated by the Netherlands. In response to Paternot’s questions, he said that the European Commission candidates nominated by his governments had not been instructed in the past to defend the Council of Ministers or the national interest.”
Umtzigt said he thought it was “not strange at all.” He said he would find it great if the Netherlands did not take its own interests into account when nominating a new candidate for commissioner. “If you look at other countries, you will find that they have much closer relations with their European Commissioner than the Netherlands. I would not like to explain this debate in France, I am telling you.”
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It is expected that the Dutch European Commissioner will not be appointed after this week. This applies to a new term for the current Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. In recent days, Rutte has held behind-the-scenes discussions about these and other top positions: not on behalf of the Netherlands, but on behalf of the liberal Renewal faction, along with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The debate over the distribution of positions was the most violent confrontation during the debate that revolved mainly around a milestone: Rutte’s last parliamentary debate. He will almost certainly become the new Secretary General of NATO soon. He concluded his answer at the end of the evening with a word of thanks to the guides and deputies.
In discussions, Rutte said, “the viewpoints should be in conflict with each other, but aim to reach a compromise while maintaining good relations.” Afterward, deputies posed alongside him for one last selfie.