The Dutch cabinet will receive Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a delegation from his government in Rotterdam today. The aim of the meeting is to further strengthen bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Germany. The visit to the Netherlands coincides with massive strikes and unrest within Scholz’s coalition. “The question is how fresh they come to Rotterdam under their arms.”
“A total of 13 ministers and 3 undersecretaries of state are present,” says German correspondent Derk Marseille. “All counterparts talk to each other.” The fact that the entire top of the German government is coming to the Netherlands is “special”, according to Marseille. “Both governments talk to each other often, the relationship is very good, but this doesn’t happen often. That relationship can still get a boost because of that.’
In addition to Prime Minister Rutte, Finance Ministers Kaag, Climate and Energy Ministers Rob Jetten, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren are also present.
The program includes foreign policy, defence, energy, climate, infrastructure. “The main topics at the moment are the war in Ukraine and the consultations on the deployment and purchase of military assets,” says Marseille. “And of course they will talk about the European Union and how the Netherlands and Germany relate to these issues.”
This also includes European autonomy, the Green Deal led by European Commissioner Frans Timmermans and collaborations in the field of technical developments. “But industry associations in both countries want to see more concrete plans for it.”
Fresh armpit
At the same time, unrest within the German government increased. For example, there is much discussion about the European plan to ban petrol cars, for which Germany concluded a deal with the European Commission this weekend.
“And also, the biggest question in the country is who should pay for the energy transition,” Marseille says. ‘The coalition party Die Grünen wants to implement all plans without mercy. This will cause high costs for the German population, and this is a bomb in this cabinet. They worked all night discussing these blocks. The question is how fresh the Germans will be when they arrive in the Netherlands later today.”
strikes
There is a massive strike in Germany. For example, all trains are at a standstill and there are almost no flights from Munich and Frankfurt. Some tunnels could also be closed, with consequences for freight traffic. “The unions want wages to rise,” says Marseille. “There must be 500 euros per person, which is between eight and twelve percent wage increase.” Employers think the requirement is too high.
Source: BNR
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