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. 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.
Ollongren will discuss the war in Ukraine with his German counterpart Pistorius. According to her, Dutch-German cooperation and the development of the armed forces are central. ‘How can we invest more together, practice together, work together? But of course also our help to Ukraine. Ever since we delivered Panzer Howitzers together, we always try to help each other, to strengthen each other. For example, we are now also looking into the joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine. So it’s actually very practical.’
“For example, we are now also looking into joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine”
According to Ollongren, the Netherlands should not depend on other countries in the field of munitions and defense industry. «But you don’t want to be alone, you need others. Not us, not the Germans. That’s why we are also members of the European Union, we are members of NATO. The defense industry is extremely important. We have excellent Dutch industry, which is often also a supplier, for example, to the German defense industry”.
Infrastructure
Ollongren’s colleague of the economy minister, Adriaanssens, also focuses on the Dutch business community. “There are so many things that affect us together. For example infrastructure. We are looking into the Delta corridor, which also extends into Germany. There’s a lot to do regarding the development of new technologies, there’s also a lot to do regarding the upcoming European rules. For example, the Net Zero Industry Act. This is another initiative in Europe that allows us to develop clean technologies together even faster and better.’
“There are so many things that affect us together. For example infrastructure’
Organized crime
Finally, Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgöz will talk to his colleague about cross-border organized crime. “Every country suffers from organized crime because those networks don’t respect national borders.” According to Yesilgöz, Germans mainly look at how the Netherlands protect their ports. “We have taken important steps to ensure that everyone who works there is screened for risk areas, that containers are secured, that the companies that transport those containers take responsibility.”
‘Every country suffers from organized crime because those networks do not respect national borders’
Source: BNR
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