U bevindt zich op: Home › Government › Previous governments › Balkenende II Government › Speech from the Throne 2003 Huidig dossier: Balkenende II Government

Economic Affairs: putting the Netherlands back at the top

News item | 16-09-2003

The Dutch economy needs to be strengthened. This calls for a sound financial policy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs also aims to stimulate innovation, dynamism and enterprise.

The Netherlands has slipped from third (in 2000) to fifteenth place in the league table of most competitive countries published by the World Economic Forum (LINK). It has become less attractive as a business location due to excessive regulation, poor accessibility, the crime rate and a lack of physical space.

Enterprise
The government wants to make the Netherlands a top-ranking business location again. This can be achieved by removing obstacles to business startups and small and medium-sized businesses, abolishing contradictory rules and tackling crime.

Innovation
The government has established an innovation platform to stimulate innovation in the Dutch economy. The platform, comprising leading figures from the scientific and business communities and headed by the Prime Minister, will make recommendations on the application of knowledge and research. It will also advise on how to spend €185 million earmarked for knowledge and innovation (knowledge workers, high-tech startups, research, and collaboration between industry and centres of learning). Its activities are in line with the EU's Lisbon strategy to bring about economic renewal.

Liberalisation
The government will continue to liberalise sectors such as energy, telecommunications and postal services. The Ministry will oversee the process closely and will put additional measures in place to ensure sufficient safeguards for consumers. The energy market will be fully liberalised as of 1 July 2004. The interests of consumers and small businesses will be taken into account. Security of supply and safety are key conditions and will be guaranteed by means of regulations and supervision.

Cuts
The cuts will mainly affect the grants awarded by the Ministry. Rather than making cuts across the board, priorities have been set in accordance with government policy. Knowledge and innovation, for example, have been spared as far as possible. On the other hand, grants for space research and investment in deprived areas (LINK), and tax breaks for consumers of green energy (LINK), have been reduced or abolished.