History of Its Relationship to the EU

Matthieu CHANCERELGroup 7

05/10/2006

Simulation Game

Netherlands; The country in question and the EU

• History of its relationship to the EU
• Cultural factors: Netherlands eurosceptist or not?
• Voting Weight:
• Attitude to the New Constitution:

Waste Policy

1. SWOT
2. National Waste Management in Netherlands.

Netherlands: The country in question and the EU

History of its relationship to the EU:

Netherlands is a founder member. In 1957, Netherlands integrated “The European Economic Community” with Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.Netherlandsratify all the next treaties of European integration and the 01/01/2002, the florins (national currency) disappear in favour of euro.

The country constantly played an important part in the promotion of an integration of the European Communities. The Netherlands think that they have to gain much with strong and plain Europe because Holland is a small country. The Dutch economy is directed towards export. This economy benefited from its membership of the single market. The three quarters of Dutch exports are bound for the Union.

However, since some years, Netherlands seems to be in doubt period against the process of European construction.

Cultural factors: Netherlands eurosceptist or not?

The Netherlands used to be one of the most enthusiastic countries in favor of Europe unification until 2002. The introduction of theEuro was very popular in the Netherlands in 2001 with ⅔ of the population supporting it. Scepticism started in 2002 when the prices in the shops and bars rose enormously. Many Dutch people blamed the euro for this. The expansion of the European Union with ten countries in 2004, including eight poor eastern European countries, was unpopular in the Netherlands. The European constitution was rejected by the Dutch in 2005 by a majority of the population despite the support of it by the main political parties and the roughly 40% of the people who voted in favor of the constitution. The European enthusiasm of Dutch politicians of before 2002 was exchanged for a policy of demanding tax reduction to Brussels and strong defense of the Dutch interest. Agitated European politicians regarded the support of Dutch politicians for the anti-European sentiments of their population as an uncooperative Calvinist attitude.

Voting Weight:

The Netherlands elect 27 members of the European Parliament.

This country has 13 votes at the Council of Ministers.

Attitude to the New Constitution:

The 01/06/2005, the Dutch rejected at 61.6 % the treaty on the establishment of European Constitution. The participation for the vote was very important more than the European election in 2004.

After the France, Netherlands is the second member state to reject the constitution.

Why?

Betray by their political reps, the Dutch transformed the nature of referendum for European Constitution. The Dutch use this referendum not for European Constitution but for Turkey adhesion, immigration, the increase of unemployment, the increase of price because of Euro, insecurity… To resume, the Dutch used the referendum to punish the Dutch government. The referendum shows the fracture between the Dutch and their government.

Thanks to this fracture, we can see the politic crisis in Netherlands and the gulf between political party and their electors. Majority and opposition go on the campaign for the “Yes” but the major parts of the electors don’t follow their party.

In the camp against the constitution, all the electors follow their parties (90%). The camp for the “No” are omnipresent in the street, in the TV and in the newspaper. M. Wilders sake on insecurity, immigration, and Turkey adhesion. More than, the partisan of “no” benefit from the very disastrous campaign for “yes”.

Waste Policy

1. SWOT:

1. National Waste Management in Netherlands

83% of waste substances in the Netherlands must be applied for useful purposes by 2012. This is stated in the National Waste Management Plan (LAP), which centralizes control of waste management at national level and replaces numerous provincial plans. Under the National Waste Management Plan, the disposal of waste by incineration and landfill must be limited and the liberalization of the waste market must be continued.

Principal main of waste policy:

-The main aim of the National Waste Management Plan is to ensure that the proportion of waste applied for useful purposes rises from just over 76% in 2002 to 83% in 2012. This will be done by both promoting the recycling of waste substances and by applying non-recyclable waste substances for useful purposes or as fuel. This will make it possible to economize on ordinary fuels such as coal, oil and gas. The Plan also makes an important contribution to climate policy since it creates a financial incentives framework in order to support measures for the use of wastes as fuel.

-Another aim of the National Waste Management Plan is to ensure that the categories of waste dumped in landfill sites are limited to those which cannot be recycled or incinerated. This will reduce the amount of methane emitted by these sites. In addition, it will cut the amount of land needed for landfill sites and reduce the lengthy after-care which these sites need once they are closed.

The National Waste Management Plan has taken effect today and is valid for four years (2002-2006).

One tool for Waste policy in Netherlands: Environmental tax on waste

1. Why?

The idea for a waste tax was born during the parliamentary discussions about the environmental tax on fuels in 1992. What was then an earmarked fuel charge was being restructured into a fuel tax to raise revenue for the general budget. Revenue raised by the fuel tax was supposed to increase from Dutch florins. 1.5 billion in 1992 to Dutch florins. 2.1 billion in 1994. Because this raise in the tax burden was judged to be unacceptable for large fuel consuming companies, it was decided to develop other taxes with an environmental base to raise the additional revenue needed.

2. The objectives of the tax

- The primary aim of the waste tax is to raise revenue. Introduction of the waste tax made it unnecessary to raise other taxes with less favorable side effects. Introduction of taxes with an environmental base also fits into the policy of greening the fiscal system.

-The secondary aim of the tax is to generate a positive environmental effect. The fact that disposal costs are substantially lower for landfilling than for incineration is considered a drawback for waste policy. The landfilling of waste is seen as the least desirable method of waste disposal.

The waste tax is an important part of the policy presented in the second National Environmental Policy Plan (1994) for raising landfill costs to match those for incineration. The increase in the costs of landfilling would make preferable alternatives such as incineration, recycling and prevention more attractive.

3. The revenue
The revenue for the waste tax is estimated to be about € 117 million in 2005. The revenue is for environmental policy

4. Who has to pay the tax

The proprietor of an establishment where waste matter is delivered for processing is liable for the waste tax. Normally, the tax will be passed on to the suppliers of the waste. In some cases the waste delivered consists of refuse collected by the municipalities. These municipalities can pass the cost increase on to their citizens by raising the local waste disposal charge.