Leonard Geluk
General Director at VNG
Following the swearing-in of the ministers and state secretaries, the Jetten cabinet has finally taken office. The agreement underscores the cabinet's commitment to cooperation with local authorities.
Leonard Geluk, CEO of VNG, explains the questions regarding implementation:
Many of the measures proposed by the municipalities are understandable, and the tone is constructive. We welcome this, as it strengthens our confidence that we can tackle the major challenges facing the Netherlands together. At the same time, the plans show that not all objectives are covered by the necessary resources. This very tension presents a significant challenge for the future.
The challenge in housing construction is and remains enormous. Municipalities want to accelerate housing construction and create livable, attractive neighborhoods. This involves not only building, but also investing in infrastructure, accessibility, and social cohesion. We see the same tension in the area of climate and energy. The goals remain the same, but resources are not growing accordingly. This makes it more difficult to expand district heating networks, design more sustainable housing, and combat energy poverty.
The pressure in the social sector remains palpable. While the announced reforms in youth welfare and the social assistance law (Wmo) point the way forward, without structural financing solutions the question remains whether municipalities will be able to continue providing needs-based support to their residents.
Particularly in youth services, bottlenecks are increasing, and a structural solution is lacking. Municipalities are making intensive efforts to make support more family-oriented, but without realistic resources, the system risks becoming overloaded. The relationship between responsibilities and funding also remains unclear in the Social Assistance Act (Wmo), while municipalities continue to be responsible for providing adequate support.
Furthermore, several issues require further decisions. The integration of internally displaced Ukrainians continues to pose significant challenges for municipalities, but the situation beyond 2027 remains to be seen. Plans to strengthen social resilience are ambitious, but their practical implementation and financing still need to be finalized. Expectations for digitalization are high, but there is a lack of structural investment. At the same time, municipalities are under increasing pressure due to additional responsibilities and stricter requirements for digital security and digital services.
Overall, we see both positive aspects of the agreement and gaps in its implementation and funding. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) intends to work with the new government in the coming period to develop a joint, feasible, and realistic agenda. We at the VNG will submit concrete proposals. Structural clarity regarding tasks and resources is essential for successful cooperation.
The VNG has thoroughly analyzed the agreement. Read here what it means for the municipalities: VNG
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