In a time when the EU is being severely put to the test, the Netherlands has taken over the presidency of the Council of the EU in an attempt to focus on the essentials, create growth and jobs through innovation, and to connect with civil society.
The four priority areas the Netherlands will be focusing on are migration and international security, sound finances and a robust euro zone, Europe as an innovator and job creator, and a forward-looking climate and energy policy.
After the terrorist attacks in Paris and with the influx of refugees, the pressure is on in the EU, a situation acknowledged by Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders in his State of the European Union letter to the European Parliament late in 2015. "As holder of the presidency we will have a key role to play over the coming six months in keeping the EU on course," he stated.
The Netherlands has been at the forefront of European unity for a long time, aiming for a federal Europe. It had been among the founding fathers of EU's predecessor, the European Community of Coal and Steel in 1952. For the 12th time in history the Netherlands holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, with the last time being in 2004.
In recent years, there has been growing anti-European sentiment in the Netherlands, as in other countries of the EU. Although worded in rather general phrases, the general aim of the Dutch program is clear. It desperately needs to muster public support, both internally and among member states.
While a "Grexit" was solved at enormous costs, a new, even more dangerous "Brexit" seems to loom with the upcoming referendum on the EU in the UK . The European continent shows a disproportional increase in the ageing population. Unemployment is high, especially among young people and those over 50. The economy is slowly recovering from a severe crisis, but development is still very unbalanced.
The problems that face the EU are huge and solidarity among member states is very low, as was demonstrated in the refugee crisis. Making connections will be a key theme during the Dutch presidency.
The EU must, according to the Dutch, connect with its citizens, so that they can identify with EU decisions. The Netherlands also aims to be a reliable and effective mediator that forges compromises between the 28 member states of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament.
To encourage the active involvement of people and civil society organizations in European decision-making, a visitors' center will be located near the presidency venue in Amsterdam. There visitors can learn more about the history and operation of the EU.
The Netherlands believes the EU must focus on areas that will make Europe stronger, such as prosperity, freedom and security. The EU should not involve itself in matters that the member states are perfectly capable of dealing with themselves, like healthcare, education, pensions and taxes.
The migration crisis has, according to the Dutch government, revealed various shortcomings in the European area involving freedom, security and justice that require action. "The EU cannot afford to shy away from this," Koenders said in his State of the EU letter. "The crisis requires a common approach, to ensure the rapid elaboration and implementation of the European Commission's package of proposals on migration."
Each EU presidency works closely with the two member states that sandwich its administration, a system called the "Trio Presidency." The Netherlands, which will hold the presidency from January 1 to June 30, 2016, is partnered with Slovakia (July-December 2016) and Malta (January- June 2017).
In his letter, Koenders expressed the hope that over the next six months the Dutch EU presidency will foster unity and resolve, to ensure the EU can help alleviate people's concerns. "This Union of 28 member states is not perfect," he said. "But it provides essential tools with which to tackle the challenges of today."
The author is a writer with the Xinhua News Agency. The article first appeared on Xinhua.
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