House of Representatives elections in the Netherlands: The expectations for border regions and cross-border cooperation
Today, 6 December 2023, the new MPs take office, following the House of Representatives elections on 22 November 2023. On 1 December last. the election results were finalised. The PVV emerged from the ballot box as the largest party (37 seats) followed by GroenLinks/PvdA (25 seats), the VVD (24 seats) and New Social Contract (20 seats). Overall , there seems to be no significant difference between border municipalities and the other municipalities: PVV scores highest in almost all Dutch municipalities (e.g. in the North-Eastern region around Enschede, NSC scores higher). Since last week, Ronald Plasterk has been appointed to explore a possible cabinet formation. Although the exploration and formation talks are still taking place at the moment, it is clear that the PVV is the linchpin, with the VVD, NSC and BBB in its sights . Given the result, what are the main aspects for cross-border regionsand cooperation in Europe in general?
The parties involved have already indicated to that certain elements of the PVV programme should be “put on ice”. The PVV’s Europe position could be one such “deal breaker”. The PVV’s party programme is among those listed in the ITEM Reflection that are more sceptical about the EU and wish to strengthen national borders: “As a sovereign country, PVV seeks strong bilateral contacts and economic ties with other countries. This intensive cooperation between countries does not require a political union like the EU. The PVV wants a binding referendum on NEXIT.” While the NSC, for example, does not advocate an “ever closer union” and the BBB wants to strengthen subsidiarity in Europe by strengthening the position of Dutch regions, EU membership is not a point of discussion.
With borderregions as ‘testing grounds of European integration’, it is clear that a NEXIT would be particularly damaging for borderregions where day-to-day life also takes place partly across borders. A good number of MPs can probably agree from their own experience: just under 40 per cent of MPs come from a border province, some 20 per cent live in a border region (municipalities within 25 kilometres of the national border). The ITEM Reflection points to other plans that would not benefit the border region. Think of a work permit, which would make cross-border work more difficult, or the creation of pushbacks and border controls, that would not improve the living situation at the border and certainly cooperation with neighbouring countries. From that point of view, it is somewhat surprising to note that election results in border municipalities do not differ from the rest of the Netherlands.
“The border region must be top-of-mind,” was the message of the Next ITEM with candidate MPs on 16 November last, similarly in the context of ‘administrative renewal’ or ‘every region counts’. This is ever the case now that the discussion on national borders may be back on the (formation) table. The experience of previous cabinets shows that a minister or state secretary with cross-border cooperation as coordinating responsibility is good, but not sufficient. In the cabinet formation, a ministerial task for cross-border cooperation with a stronger mandate can be used. And as NSC rightly puts it, “Not only the cabinet but also the House of Representatives must invest in the relationship with neighbouring countries. ” Indeed, the new House of Representatives also has a role for the border region here. This can already be implemented on 13 December during the debate on the results and cabinet formation.