Meetings of (Deputy) Permanent Representative

The meetings of the Netherlands Permanent Representative to the EU and Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU are published monthly. This monthly list includes attendances of Council meetings, meetings and appointments with visitors of the Dutch Permanent Representation from business, NGOs and academia as well as Dutch Parliament and European Parliament, local governments and advisory bodies. Find the agenda’s here: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/web/pr-eu-brussels/transparency

BNC-fiches

The Beoordeling Nieuwe Commissievoorstellen (BNC fiche) is an instrument used to inform Parliament about new European Commission initiatives. The fiche includes the position of the Dutch government regarding a (new) initiative  and is published six weeks after a proposal from the European Commission. The Netherlands is one of the few countries within the EU that publicly discloses its position on EU proposals. The publication of these ‘BNC-fiches’ can be found on the EuropaPoort website of the Senate: https://www.eerstekamer.nl/eu/

Annotated agendas for EU councils

Before meetings of the European Council or other EU ministerial councils, the Dutch government prepares annotated agendas. These documents provide insight into the topics to be discussed, the Dutch position on each agenda item, and the rationale behind these positions. They offer Parliament and the public a clear understanding of the government’s position. These agenda’s can be found of the website of the Dutch House of Representatives: https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering

Reports to Parliament after EU council meetings

After EU Council meetings, the government sends detailed reports to Parliament. These documents summarize the outcomes of the meetings, highlighting decisions made and how Dutch interests were represented. This practice ensures accountability and keeps Parliament informed about developments at the EU level. These reports can be found here: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten

Publication of ministers' agendas

The agendas of Dutch ministers and state secretaries are published online, offering insight into their activities, meetings, and engagements. Find all agenda’s here: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/agenda. In addition, the administrative costs of the ministers are published on a monthly basis, and the decision lists of the Council of Ministers are made public.

Public Consultations

The Dutch government regularly organizes public consultations on proposed legislation or policy changes. Through the internetconsultatie.nl platform, citizens and stakeholders can provide input on draft laws and policies, contributing to more inclusive and transparent governance.

Open Data Initiatives

The Netherlands is a strong advocate of open data. Also in light of Directive (EU) 2019/1024 on open data and the re-use of public sector information, it has implemented platforms like data.overheid.nl, where the public can access datasets from various government agencies. This supports transparency, innovation, and citizen engagement.

Access to documents requests (Woo)

Under the Dutch Open Government Act (Wet open overheid (Woo)), the government is legally required to provide information upon request unless certain exemptions apply (e.g., privacy or national security). This framework ensures that citizens and journalists can access information about government actions.

See also: Non paper - Increasing transparency and accountability of the EU - Publication | 28-01-2020