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Policy statement

This is the translated text of the government statement of policy on taking office as delivered to the House of Representatives of the States General by the Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, on 1 March 2007.

Madam President,

'Working together, living together.' This motto sums up the government's plans.

We want to work towards a society whose members can make the most of their talents and opportunities. A society that is enterprising and bold, that welcomes change, and in which people look out for each other. A society that acts on the conviction that together we hold the keys to the future, a future in which the Netherlands will help make the world a better place.

This country has considerable energy and vigour, and is engaged, creative and passionate. If we succeed in unveiling and exploiting these strengths, the Netherlands will be capable of great things in the 21st century as it has been before. It is socially unacceptable for people to be excluded from society, and economically irresponsible. Everyone is part of society. The government wants to join all residents of the Netherlands in cultivating the full spectrum of talent in our country. 

Living together also means changing together. And change has brought us longer, healthier and more prosperous lives.

But change is not easy, especially in this day and age. Many of the things we used to rely on no longer provide the support they once did. The job for life no longer exists. Family ties have become much more varied. Cultural certainties are being called into question.

Add to that our concerns about the environment and climate change, about security, and about the shifting political and economic balance of power in the world around us. All this has an impact on our confidence in the future. We need to strike a new balance between dynamism and security.

Nonetheless, we have every reason to be confident about the future. We have a solid financial basis. The social security system has undergone a series of reforms over the past few years, and the emphasis is now on activation. The healthcare system has been placed on a whole new footing. The economy is growing steadily, and there are more jobs.

The time has now come to work on the future together and invest in it, to cement existing ties and discover and develop new ones, so that our confidence in the future will grow even stronger.

In their personal lives, people gain that confidence from the opportunities they receive or create. And it is up to people themselves to use those opportunities. That calls for enterprise and initiative. But at the same time, we must provide a helping hand and support for people who can no longer manage on their own. That will benefit us all.

More is needed to strengthen people's confidence in the future than opportunities for individual development, because that confidence also depends on the road we as a society choose to take and how close and enduring our bonds are. Only by working together and looking out for each other can we meet the challenge ahead.

The government has identified six pillars on which our future can be built. Together they present the prospect of a country that plays an active role in the world, a country with a strong, innovative economy that is growing progressively greener. A country in which everyone counts and everyone participates, and in which people can live in safety. Confidence in democracy and the rule of law is the cornerstone of government's every action. A country like this needs a government that does not meddle or raise obstacles but acts as an ally and a partner. That is the principle that informs our policies.

The first pillar is an active role for the Netherlands in Europe and the rest of the world. We can only achieve much of what is essential for our future - a cleaner environment, energy security, more safety, enough jobs, a stronger international legal order and respect for human rights - in partnership with other countries. The Netherlands is an open country with a strong international outlook. Our opportunities and possibilities are closely bound up with those of other countries.

If we want a better world, we will have to make a genuine contribution, one that is open, creative and energetic. Our country has much to offer, and with an innovative attitude it can make a difference internationally too. That is an ambition we cherish.

The world is becoming more prosperous, but more people are living in poverty, and millions of children are still not going to school. Many hundreds of thousands of African children are dying in violent conflict or because there is no money to buy medicines for them. The government wants to make an active contribution to achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. They present the prospect of reducing desperate poverty, of halting conflict and of ensuring fair trade and a cleaner environment.

The Netherlands will continue to make an active contribution to efforts to promote the international legal order. We have confidence in the peace missions currently under way, the mission in Afghanistan in particular. Our troops are doing an excellent job there, and their work will benefit us all. After all, working on political stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan contributes to our security here.

The Netherlands needs to play an active, constructive role in Europe too. Dutch and European interests are interwoven. A strong Europe means a strong Netherlands. The European Union presents us with unique opportunities to make our continent more stable, more secure, more prosperous and more sustainable, in partnership with other countries.

The EU is now working to strengthen democracy and improve efficiency. It is essential to generate public support for further European cooperation. And support will become stronger if decisions are taken as close as possible to the citizen. This principle is of the utmost importance to the government, and should also be informing the debate on the necessary amendments to the EU treaties. One of the aims of the government's contribution to the debate will be to generate public support for the EU.

With an open attitude, the Netherlands will also contribute to a healthy, innovative economy. That is the second pillar on which our future is built.

A strong economy is there to serve people. It provides a basis for our public services. And it gives people opportunities to lead a happy life. It is people who make an economy strong - entrepreneurs who have the freedom to spread their wings, and expert employees who do their work with pleasure and whose contribution is valued. A strong economy is built on people who invest in their knowledge and skills all their lives.

The economy of today and tomorrow does not revolve around routines and systems, but around the ability to respond to changing circumstances. Everything is in a constant state of flux. That calls for creative people who are not afraid to take a risk. And it calls for the recognition and development of talent.

Talent is precious, too precious to waste. We need everyone. We are already facing shortages of well-educated people and skilled workers. And we know that these shortages will become much greater as the population ages. We will need to make a great effort to ensure companies, schools and healthcare institutions are able to find the staff they need.

A smoothly operating labour market makes our economy and our society stronger. It is of the utmost importance that women, newcomers, older people and people who are partially work-disabled take a full and active part in the labour market. We want to give everyone a fair chance of working or participating in society in other ways. That calls for agreements with the social partners. We all need to roll up our sleeves. That is the objective of the summit the government plans to hold with the social partners this summer.

Education that gets the best out of people is crucial. No single young person should be allowed to leave school without a qualification. And that qualification must be worth something. It must stand for quality. Together with schools, teachers and the other parties involved, the government wants to take action against early school leaving. Our aim is for everyone to get a good education, and to participate in society to the best of their ability. We want skilled workers to make full use of their skills.

The future of the Netherlands depends on quality, knowledge and skills. Let's create plenty of scope for them - in schools, at universities and in businesses. In science, the Netherlands has the potential to be a major league player. It is capable of excelling as an innovative, enterprising country. Our migration policies should also promote an innovative economy that can cope with change. The government wants to work on that.

The government is also planning to launch a programme to deal with the most urgent problems facing the Randstad. The aim is a better living and working climate in the west of the Netherlands. Accessibility and strong mainports play a major role. The economy and the society we envisage are imbued with a sense of responsibility for human life, animal life and the natural environment. That is the third pillar.

Our wellbeing is closely connected to a healthy living environment, in both town and country. Dynamic cities, flourishing rural communities, an attractive landscape and a valuable natural environment strengthen each other. This is an issue the government wants to work on, in partnership with the provincial and municipal authorities.

Corporate Social Responsibility pays off. Economy and ecology stimulate each other and create opportunities. Care for the quality of our food and our living environment and for animal welfare is becoming increasingly intensive. Better technologies are continually being developed to ensure cleaner, more energy-efficient production. The Netherlands has long occupied a strong position through its knowledge in the field of food production, water management and efficient use of energy. If we focus on these qualities, and use innovative new technologies to the full, we will make our country not just cleaner but stronger too.

The government wants the Netherlands to lead the field in making the transition to a genuinely sustainable economy. Our aim is for our energy supplies to be among Europe's most sustainable and efficient within the next 10 to 15 years. To achieve this, we will also need to be among the frontrunners in international efforts to counter climate change. 

We will only achieve these ambitions if everyone does their share and opts for more sustainable production and consumption. That will require more conscious behaviour on all our parts: entrepreneurs, consumers, organisations and government authorities. But if we all work together and do our very best, we will succeed. To encourage environment-friendly behaviour and discourage the kind of behaviour that produces pollution, the government will introduce incentives and disincentives in the form of levies, differentiated taxes and grants. 

It is socially unacceptable for people to be excluded from society. The fourth pillar on which we plan to build our future is therefore social cohesion.

Because every person counts and wants to develop to the full, it is important that people look out for each other and engage with each other. Engagement begins with participation - in paid work, in caring for others, in volunteer work, in sports clubs or residents' associations. Art also gives life extra sparkle. The government will work towards a broad, accessible arts provision. 

Our country is populated by people from many different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. The differences have always been there, and they will be there in the future too. We can only coexist peacefully and in freedom if we understand each other and if, despite all the differences, we share the same mores and values. The government plans to launch a Delta Plan for civic integration to give newcomers the chance to integrate and secure a place for themselves in Dutch society. 

Together with the social partners and the municipal authorities, the government wants to give everyone an equal chance of work or another form of participation. During these consultations, the government will make a strong case for balanced income development. People in vulnerable positions and households with children will receive special attention.

The goal is a society without dividing lines, in which everyone participates to the best of their abilities and can build a decent life for themselves. But opportunities come with obligations. We need everyone to play an active part.

That also applies to immigrants admitted to this country. The government is reliable and clear. People who need chances will get them. But anyone who abuses these opportunities will discover that there are very clear limits to what is permissible.

What children learn and experience at a very early age determines the course of their lives. Where necessary, the government will support parents in their task of raising children. Parents will find it easier to combine work and care tasks. And children in difficulty will be given better help, more quickly. Services will centre on the child, not on organisations, rules and systems.

Children deserve a fair deal, wherever they are born. The government will put much time and effort into ensuring they get one.  

Integration starts close to home, in the neighbourhood. Every neighbourhood is different. We must take account of variety. The government wants to enable people from all ethnic groups - old and young, poor and rich alike - to integrate in their own neighbourhood and their own community.

There are neighbourhoods in this country that have degenerated. The government is taking the lead in launching a major offensive to give these neighbourhoods new prospects. To this end, everyone will have to join forces: residents, housing associations, municipalities, business people, sports clubs, organisations and government agencies. Within ten years, the government hopes to have transformed these problem neighbourhoods into places where people want to live and work, where people are proud of their own community.

The fifth pillar is safety. Greater safety means more confidence in the rule of law. The crime rate has declined in the Netherlands in recent years. But many people still do not feel safe. Violence remains a major problem.

Safety begins with prevention. The government wants to be alert to the threat of violence of all kinds, including domestic violence and terrorism. Transgressors will be dealt with firmly. The government plans to launch a new public safety programme, with the aim of reducing crime by 25% compared with 2002. That can be done by, for example, improving cooperation and keeping habitual offenders on the straight and narrow.

A decent future for the Netherlands also depends on the government's attitude and the quality of public services. Nowadays, people want a lean, efficient government that acts as an ally of society. That is the sixth pillar.

People feel more comfortable and are more likely to take new initiatives in small-scale, familiar environments. The government has therefore chosen the human scale as its guiding principle, with the emphasis on implementation. Professionals - teachers, nurses, care providers, entrepreneurs and researchers - spend far too much time doing paperwork and attending meetings. The focus will return to their love for their profession, and their professionalism, expertise and commitment.

Innovation in the public sector is essential to improve service provision and to ensure that public employees have more pleasure in their work. Innovation is also needed to make up for the staff shortages that will arise as a result of demographic ageing.

Measures to reduce the administrative burden on businesses were introduced in the past few years. In the next few years, both the general public and professionals will find that they will have more room to manoeuvre within the bounds of the law.

The government will work closely together with the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. The administrative reorganisation of the Netherlands Antilles - on which agreement has already been reached - will create new opportunities for cooperation.

Madam President, 

The government wants to build its policies on these six pillars. These policies will be financially sound. We want sustainable government finances, since that will provide security for the future, when the consequences of demographic ageing become more apparent. We cannot pass on our debts - financial, ecological or otherwise - to future generations.

The government opts to strike a good balance between redeeming the national debt and making the investments needed to strengthen society. The returns on those investments will help to mitigate the effects of demographic trends.

The government has taken as its departure point a structural surplus of at least one per cent of GDP in 2011. The national debt will drop from around 50% now to 40% in four years, based on realistic growth figures.

The government intends to adopt an open stance towards the world, and aim for modernisation and development in a way that is inviting to everyone. We want a society without dividing lines that welcomes change. Success can only be achieved if everyone feels that they can take part.

That will make considerable demands on the government. The social problems of our time are too complicated for standard solutions imposed by central government. We will only succeed in generating a new élan in old neighbourhoods and cleaning up our environment if we use the knowledge, experience and efforts of everyone concerned. We simply cannot manage without.

Policy that emerges from dialogue is easier to implement and more vigorous than policy designed and drafted by central government. Because dialogue is the only way to tap into society's creativity, to use the expertise generated in the workplace, and to take account of specific circumstances. And because people will regard the solutions ensuing from dialogue as their own, and will want them to succeed. This approach is more than an investment in public support. It will lead to better policy.

We are not afraid to provide tailor-made solutions if they are needed. We are not afraid to introduce variation where we need to. We must not allow ourselves to be straitjacketed by the principle of equality. We should trust people, organisations and the municipal and provincial authorities to come up with their own solutions, on their own scale.

The government wants to forge coalitions with partners from civil society, so that their aspirations for society become joint projects.

The course is clear, but the exact route will be mapped out in consultation, not only with special interest and umbrella organisations, but also with citizens themselves, and with people working in the field who know from daily experience what needs improving.

Of course we must achieve concrete results. Our civil society partners are free to contribute as they see fit, but their contributions are not free of obligation. Ministers will ensure projects move forward. If necessary, the government will ultimately intervene and get them moving.

The path we have chosen is not easy. But the government is convinced that this is the most appropriate way to work in contemporary society, since it presents the best prospects of reaching solid, sustainable solutions.

The government will draw up a policy programme based on the coalition agreement and present it by the summer of 2007. Further details will be worked out by the state opening of parliament in September, when we will also present the 2008 budget. The economy is forecast to grow by 2.75 per cent in 2008. The six pillars and the corresponding projects will be fleshed out in the policy programme and the Budget Memorandum. Coherence in policymaking and implementation is the guiding principle.

Madam President,

This statement of policy could not have been drafted without the efforts of many.

We are extremely grateful to the two mediators for the work they put into forming this government. Rein Jan Hoekstra presented his report to Her Majesty the Queen on 18 December 2006, and discussed his findings with this House. He concluded that only a government supported by the Christian Democratic Alliance, the Labour Party and the Christian Union presented scope for further exploration.

Herman Wijffels led the ensuing process of exploration in masterful fashion. His report, which included the coalition agreement between the three parties, was published on 9 February, and was the subject of a debate in this House.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministers and State Secretaries now leaving office. They worked very hard on reforms to make the Netherlands stronger. It was no easy task, but they performed it with dedication.

One minister deserves a special mention. That is Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm. The skill and often obvious pleasure with which he did this job for more than twelve years made a deep impression. Thanks are due to him for the commitment and responsibility he demonstrated.

Madam President,

'Working together, living together.' This motto is a call to everyone in the Netherlands and the principle underpinning our own actions.

The coalition agreement between the Christian Democratic Alliance, the Labour Party and the Christian Union identifies the political parameters and the direction we wish to take. It presents ample scope for consultation with the House in working out the details. The government explicitly wishes to seek a constructive dialogue with the opposition parties. A productive partnership with the House forms the basis for a better Netherlands. The government is dedicated heart and soul to that objective.

Thank you.