Priceless image damage for the Netherlands and The Hague
Municipalities and provinces are angry. Other European information about us does not. And according to Frans Timmermans, there is even ‘a little chuckle’ in Brussels at the negligence of the Netherlands. Because we are the very last to submit a proposal for the corona recovery fund. In the BNR Europe Podcast: a conversation with Commissioner Eddy van Hijum on behalf of the provinces Thomas Dermine and reactions from Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans.
The European Commissioner of BNR Stefan de Vries recently received one complaint after another. Provinces and municipalities are done with the dawdling of Wopke Hoekstra and his followers. But what they are especially angry about is the lack of transparency and cooperation.
Province is not allowed to participate
Why is Belgium able to consult with all calculations and draw up a plan? Why is the Netherlands leaving just under 6 billion euros untouched and not being asked to implement what they want? Because if sustainability is so important and has to happen at such a rapid pace, what’s wrong with picking up that money a little more quickly? Deputy Eddy Hijum, a former member of parliament on behalf of the CDA, says spoken names to the Interprovincial Consultation: ‘This week I was in contact with someone who is going. a plan is now being drawn up in outline, but without preventing us from doing so.’
Van Hijum also states that this laconic handling of billions of euros leads to incomprehension in the rest of Europe. Van Hijum should know: last year he was made special by the European Commission counselor and rapporteur for all European cities and regions.
Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans responds to the Dutch attitude among our colleagues at BNR De Wereld. According to him, in Brussels there is ‘a bit of chuckling’. You can hear an extensive response later in our podcast and in BNR De Wereld.
Belgian specifications
Fortunately, our southern neighbors can provide us with advice. Thomas Dermine is the Belgian Secretary of State who is specially charged with the recovery of Belgium, as evidenced by his description as State Secretary for Recovery and Strategic Investments. ‘We know what it’s like to act slowly. Maybe we can provide you with some formation adviceā – he laughs.
You can hear an extensive interview with Dermine in the second part of this episode.
Railway timetable
[05:40] Eddy van Hijum and Stefan de Vries
[24:05] Interview Thomas Dermine
Reactions in between: Frans Timmermans
The Thirty-fourth Europe Podcast
Hahn and De Vries keep a close eye on Brussels, the European Union, Schengen, the eurozone and the fringes of our continent. In addition to the topics of conversation, attention is also paid to ‘music’ from our continent. And this episode we’re going to Germany for a pop-rap-crossover thing. You can check out the entire playlist of this horrible euro trash here included in our Spotify list.
Also on FM!
You can hear us on BNR every Wednesday evening. Time: 7:00 PM. And later in the evening we will be online as an extended podcast version.
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