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Rapporteurs make the case for more transparency in the EU
24 November 2017Members 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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Rapporteurs: ‘Prepare for no-deal Brexit’
21 November 2017The 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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Rutte III cabinet sworn in at Noordeinde Palace
27 October 2017On 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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New cabinet presents Coalition Agreement
10 October 2017On 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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Mr Anne Mulder (VVD) observer at German elections
22 September 2017From 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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Dutch coalition talks resumed
11 September 2017On 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.
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The House opens its doors for Heritage Day
6 September 2017Saturday 9th September 2017, the House of Representatvies opens its doors for Heritage Day (Open Monumentendag). Visitors are welcome to see the Old Library and the Chamber of the House.
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House of Representatives in summer recess
14 July 2017Thursday, 6 July, was the last sitting day of the House of Representatives before the summer recess. On that last day, the House often sits late into the night, but this year, due to the ongoing Cabinet formation, the House's schedule was less packed than usual in the weeks before the summer recess. The House is in recess up to and including Monday 4 September. The first plenary sitting after the summer will take place on Tuesday, 5 September. In the meantime, the negotiations on the formation of a new Cabinet will continue, except for a short holiday break.
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Informateur Tjeenk Willink continues discussions with party leaders
8 June 2017On the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 June 2017, Informateur Herman Tjeenk Willink held discussions with party leaders Mark Rutte (VVD), Sybrand van Haersma Buma (CDA) and Alexander Pechtold (D66) regarding continuing the process of forming a new government. The meeting was held in the Stadholder’s Room in the House of Representatives. Earlier in the day, the Informateur held discussions with Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks) and Gert-Jan Segers (ChristenUnie).
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House of Representatives reappoints Ms Edith Schippers as informateur
17 May 2017On Wednesday 17 May 2017, the House of Representatives reappointed Edith Schippers as informateur in the Cabinet formation process, in a debate on the foundered negotiations between the parliamentary groups VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks. Schippers was assigned the task to investigate, in the short term, the various possibilities for the formation of a new Cabinet that can rely on a productive co-operation with both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib will inform His Majesty the King on the outcome of the debate.
