Accountability Day

Accountability Day
Wednesday 20 May 2009 is Accountability Day in the Netherlands. On that day, the Minister of Finance presents thecentral government's annual financial reportand the annual reports of each ministry to the House of Representatives. The minister carries these documents in a briefcase which resembles the famous briefcase in which he presents the Budget Memorandum and the National Budget to the President of the House on the Third Tuesday in September, just after the state ceremony of Prince's Day in the Hall of Knights (the Queen's Speech). There is a direct link between Prince's Day and Accountability Day. In its annual reports the Cabinet accounts for the results of the previous year as compared with the National Budget, presented 18 months earlier.

Results and expenditure
The reports state how much money was spent in 2008 and for what purposes, which goals the Government had set itself for 2008 and how many of these goals were actually achieved. Apart from thecentral government's annual financial report,presented by the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister submits a so-called Accountability Letter to the House of Representatives, in which the Cabinet reports on its policy conducted in 2008, especially with regard to policy programmes and policy goals.

Publication of documents (Friday 15 May)
This year for the first time thecentral government's annual financial reportand the annual reports of each ministry were made public on the Friday before Accountability Day, allowing political groups within Parliament to better prepare themselves for the so-called accountability debate between the House and the Cabinet. This debate will take place on Thursday 28 May 2009.

Publication of the documents drafted by the Netherlands Court of Audit (Tuesday 19 May)
After the official presentation of thecentral government's annual financial report by the minister of Finance, the President of the Netherlands Court of Audit will present a number of reports to the House of Representatives, including reports on the annual report of each ministry, as well as the report on the Dutch "EU member state declaration". This year for the first time these documents will be made public on the day before Accountability Day. During the official presentation on Accountability Day, the President of the Netherlands Court of Audit is offered the once-in-a-year opportunity to address the sitting of the House of Representatives in the Plenary Meeting Hall.