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Accountabilityday 2009
News
Accountability letter 2008: Government on course and ambitions still high despite recession
The government is on course to achieve most of the objectives and complete most of the projects mentioned in its policy programme 'Working together, living together'.
The economic recession will inevitably have an impact on some of the government's 74 objectives during the remainder of its term of office. But it does not intend to adjust its goals downwards. Its ambitions remain high, but will be more difficult to realise. The supplementary policy agreement 'Working on the future' (25 March 2009) contains measures to deal with the adverse effects of the recession as far as possible. This is the message that Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende presents in the 2008 accountability letter to the House of Representatives.
The letter enables the government to set out the progress it has made towards achieving the promises contained in its policy programme in a transparent and measurable way. The results for 2008 show that implementation of the policy programme is on course in respect of 82% of the policy objectives and projects. In 2007 the figure was 44%. In that year it was only possible to measure 50% of the policy objectives, but in 2008 that figure rose to 99%. The government uses the delivery methodology first applied in the United Kingdom. This gives the Dutch public greater insight into the results and effects of government policy.
The government cannot work in isolation, nor does it want to. Only by pooling forces can it achieve the intended results and effects, especially in these difficult economic times. The unrelenting efforts of local and regional authorities, the private sector, civil society organisations and the public are required.