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15 February 2018
Act of Abjuration (Plakkaat van Verlatinghe) on display in the House of Representatives
Since Tuesday, 6 February 2018, a replica of the Act of Abjuration (Plakkaat van Verlatinghe), the unofficial declaration of independence of the Netherlands from 1581, is on display near the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. The President of the House, Ms Arib, was the first to take a look at the replica. "The Act of Abjuration tells us who we are", said Arib.
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12 January 2018
MPs meet with EU's Brexit negotiator Barnier
On Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2018, members of the standing committee on European Affairs had a meeting with Michel Barnier. This Frenchman is the chief Brexit negotiatior on behalf of the European Commission. The MPs discussed with him the progress in the negotiations on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union (EU).
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15 December 2017
Debat Direct app: Get a full week of parliamentary sessions on your personal device
Download the all-new app, view the parliamentary calendar for the entire week, watch all the week's debates, track parliamentary proceedings and share your favourites on social media.
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4 December 2017
Debate on the future of Europe in Maastricht
In what direction should the European Union be heading? Should it strive for more cooperation in more fields? Or should it strive for less cooperation, of more efficiency? What topics should be given priority? Dutch Members of Parliament will discuss these and more issues with a number of experts as well as representatives from EU institutions, such as Mr Frans Timmermans, first Vice-President of the European Commission.
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24 November 2017
Rapporteurs make the case for more transparency in the EU
Members of Parliament are unable to monitor the EU effectively at present. This is particularly true of the consultations and negotiations between member states on new European legislation in areas such as agriculture, pensions and migration policy. Documents are not routinely made public, for example.
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21 November 2017
Rapporteurs: ‘Prepare for no-deal Brexit’
The Netherlands must be pepared for there being no agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) after Brexit. This is the the so-called chaos scenario, in which the UK leaves the European Union (EU) without a transition period and without any arrangements regarding the new EU-UK relationship.
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27 October 2017
Rutte III cabinet sworn in at Noordeinde Palace
On Thursday morning 26 October 2017, the Rutte III cabinet was sworn in by King Willem Alexander at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, followed by the traditional photograph on the steps of the palace. The taking office of the new cabinet also causes changes in the composition of the House of Representatives. On Tuesday 31 October, twelve new MPs will be sworn in: six VVD, three D66, two CDA and one ChristianUnion MPs. The debate about the Government Statement will be held on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 November.
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10 October 2017
New cabinet presents Coalition Agreement
On Tuesday, 10 October 2017, VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristianUnion presented the Coalition Agreement entitled 'Confidencein the Future'. Early in the afternoon, the leaders of these four political groups commented on the Coalition Agreement in the Old Plenary Hall, shortly after the presentation by informateur Mr Gerrit Zalm of his final report to the President of the House, Ms Khadija Arib. Earlier that day, the VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristianUnion groups in the House agreed to the final version of the Coalition Agreement. On Thursday, 12 October, the House will hold a debate about the final report of informateur Zalm.
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22 September 2017
Mr Anne Mulder (VVD) observer at German elections
From Friday 22 September until Monday 25 September Mr Anne Mulder MP (VVD) will act as an observer at the parliamentary elections in Germany. On behalf of the Senate and the House of Representatives Mr Mulder takes part in an observer mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA).
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11 September 2017
Dutch coalition talks resumed
On Wednesday 9 August 2017, the leaders of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie have continued their preliminary talks aimed at forming a coalition government in the Netherlands. These talks are presided by Informateur Gerrit Zalm.
