Accountability Day

The budgetary year expires on December 31st. Early in the next year the Government draws up an annual report, to be discussed by the House on Accountability Day in May.

Desired policy goals
On Accountability Day the president of the Netherlands Court of Audit, too, presents a report to the House of Representatives, scrutinising the Government's policy over the past year: have the desired policy goals been achieved and did the Cabinet observe the law? The Netherlands Court of Audit also reports on the annual reports of each ministry.

Accounting
Mid-June the House of Representatives holds a debate on the financial reports and the reports of the Netherlands Court of Audit. MPs discuss with the ministers the implementation of the various policy programmes, as well as the results and costs. After the debate in the House, the Senate also discusses the annual reports, so the ministers must account to both chambers of the States General. That is why the third Wednesday in May is called Accountability Day.

Adjustment or change
On Accountability Day the Government does not account for its plans for the current year, but for the previous year. In 2007, for instance, the Government had to account for its plans presented on Prince's Day 2005 and implemented in 2006. Because the implementation of the plans is immediately evaluated in the following year, the Cabinet can incorporate the comments made by the House of Representatives in the draft budget bill for the next year, and thus adjust or change its policy, if necessary.