OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Vereniging VNO-NCW

VNO-NCW

VNO-NCW is the largest Dutch business organization representing the interests of the Netherlands' business community in the EU.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

21 Jan 2026 · Digital Euro, Payment Services Directive

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Jan 2026 · Technologische ontwikkelingen

Meeting with Miguel Jose Garcia Jones (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra), Myriam Jans (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

21 Jan 2026 · Discussion on the importance of promoting leads markets

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Jan 2026 · Transport policies

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jan 2026 · Water resilience

Meeting with Francesco Corti (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

12 Dec 2025 · Labour Mobility Package

Meeting with Gert Jan Koopman (Director-General Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood)

9 Dec 2025 · Discussion on EU Enlargement

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Nov 2025 · Priorities Dutch harbor

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament) and Bureau Brussel Vewin - Unie van Waterschappen

20 Nov 2025 · Water resilience

Meeting with Bart Groothuis (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Nov 2025 · Grids and energy

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Nov 2025 · Demand creation

Meeting with Elisa Roller (Director Secretariat-General)

23 Oct 2025 · Discussion on Commission policies implementing the recommendations of the Draghi repo

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Oct 2025 · CMA

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

15 Oct 2025 · Omnibus CSRD CSDDD

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Oct 2025 · State of Dutch SMEs

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

13 Oct 2025 · Dinnerbijeenkomst VNO-NCW en MKB-Nederland

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Oct 2025 · Industry: developments and declne

Meeting with Marieke Ehlers (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Oct 2025 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Sept 2025 · Omnibus CSRD CSDDD

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2025 · Milieu en Klimaat

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Sept 2025 · Omnibus I

Meeting with Kerstin Jorna (Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

17 Sept 2025 · Lead markets

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

11 Sept 2025 · REACH, Water Framework Directive

Meeting with Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2025 · Omnibus I

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2025 · International Trade developments

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Acting Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

8 Sept 2025 · VNO-NCW’s positions on the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA)

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Sept 2025 · Demand Creation

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Jun 2025 · Administrative burdens for business

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Jun 2025 · CSRD & CSDDD

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

28 May 2025 · Omnibus I

Meeting with Sarah Nelen (Acting Director Environment) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland and KLK Emmerich GmbH

23 May 2025 · Exchange of views on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

Meeting with Yvon Slingenberg (Director Climate Action)

21 May 2025 · Lead markets

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

14 May 2025 · Housing

Meeting with Reinier Van Lanschot (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Apr 2025 · Simplification Agenda of the Commission - impact for start-ups

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Apr 2025 · skills

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Apr 2025 · Critical medicines act en preventiebeleid

Meeting with Joan Canton (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

15 Apr 2025 · Presentation and exchange of views on Strategic Perspectives’ new study ‘Mobilizing consumer demand for green hydrogen?based products’

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Apr 2025 · Bilderbergconferentie

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Apr 2025 · Competitiveness

Meeting with Reinier Van Lanschot (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Mar 2025 · CEO Industrietafel

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Mar 2025 · Industrietafel VNO-NCW

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Mar 2025 · Discussion on Clean Industrial Deal with Dutch industry

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament) and Shell Companies and AIR LIQUIDE

25 Mar 2025 · Industrial policies

Response to Savings and Investments Union

7 Mar 2025

The European Union faces a huge investment challenge, as emphasized in the reports by Draghi and Letta from 2024, and the Eurogroup statement from the same year. To finance the digital and green transitions, defense spending, and economic resilience, much greater mobilization of capital is needed than public funds alone can provide. The Savings and Investments Union (SIU) is crucial to attract private investments and efficiently channel them into the economy, but progress has so far been limited. In the long run, the SIU contributes to the future-proofing of the economy and our society, among other things by creating more financing opportunities for systemic changes such as sustainability and digitalization. An integrated European capital markets union is beneficial for the macroeconomic stability of the European Union. One integrated capital market also gives private investors a larger role in bearing and spreading risks, both inside and outside the EU. The European capital markets union is also of great strategic importance, amid bickering superpowers China and the US, and reduces our dependence on foreign investments. A well-functioning SIU offers on paper direct benefits for both European citizens and businesses. Due to aging, it is increasingly important for citizens that pensions are not only dependent on a pay-as-you-go system but also on capital-backed financing, as is already common in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, among other countries. This should be the logical consequence of the promise for adequate pensions for everyone that the Union has made in the European Pillar of Social Rights (Principle 15). A positive second effect would be that large pension investors can convert the savings required for this into productive investments in a broad scope of assets in both public and private markets. Dutch institutional investors, including pension funds, already practically contribute to the capital markets union this way. Businesses, especially SMEs, also benefit from a stronger capital markets union. Financing remains a challenge for many medium-sized and small projects, specifically financing ranging from several hundred thousand euros to 20 million. Europe needs more institutional risk-bearing capital, such as private equity and venture capital, and a more varied financing landscape that, in addition to bank financingwhich we will also continue to need in the futurealso provides space for innovative financing forms. This is especially important for innovative companies that need capital for long-term investments and productivity growth, to ensure the economic growth that comes from our SMEs and to ensure that Europe can compete with the US and China. Now is the time to make the capital markets union a priority. The economic and geopolitical challenges require a well-financed European economy with strong, liquid capital markets and a strong and efficient financial market infrastructure. At the same time, it must be noted that this ambition has existed for over 15 years without result. The question of why this is, whether it is political unwillingness, complexity, or prevailing partial interests, must also be addressed. This calls for an ambitious agenda from both the European Commission and the member states, where sometimes sacrifices must be made for EU-wide progress, but also for concrete reforms that counteract fragmentation and stimulate cross-border investments. Without concrete successes, even if smaller, the energy will drain from the project. It is time for a strong and effective capital markets union that makes the European economy more resilient and competitive.
Read full response

Dutch industry group urges legal certainty for water resilience

3 Mar 2025
Topic — The initiative creates a multi-annual plan to achieve a water resilient Europe.
Message — The Commission should address legislative barriers and fund implementation to bring existing technologies to market. They urge clarity on 2027 goals to prevent permits from being challenged in court. Efficiency targets must also consider cross-media effects and conflicting sustainability objectives.123
Why — Clearer regulations would provide businesses the certainty needed to invest in innovative water solutions.4
Impact — Environmental advocates may lose grounds for legal challenges if water targets are flexibly interpreted.5
Read full response

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Feb 2025 · CSRD, CSDDD

Meeting with Anna Strolenberg (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

19 Feb 2025 · Labour migration

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

11 Feb 2025 · Innovation Compass, investment, PSD

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Feb 2025 · Omnibus

Meeting with Catarina Vieira (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Feb 2025 · Introduction meeting // INTA topics

Meeting with Katarina Koszeghy (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra), Patrice Pillet (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

29 Jan 2025 · Tax priorities under the new Commission mandate

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Jan 2025 · Omnibus

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Jan 2025 · Simplification

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

29 Jan 2025 · Customs Union, Omnibus package

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Jan 2025 · New year gathering

Meeting with Bert-Jan Ruissen (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Jan 2025 · MKB Nederland

Meeting with Sabine Weyand (Director-General Trade)

28 Jan 2025 · US Tariffs, Trump Administration.

Meeting with Bernardus Zuijdendorp (Head of Unit Taxation and Customs Union)

28 Jan 2025 · Current developments in direct taxation in the EU

Meeting with Thijs Reuten (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Jan 2025 · EU Enlargement

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

23 Jan 2025 · Omnibus

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Jan 2025 · Social policy

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and UNIFE

22 Jan 2025 · Public procurement

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Jan 2025 · Mercosur, Moldova, digital euro, banking union, quantum computing

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Jan 2025 · Trade relations and internal market affairs

Meeting with Marieke Ehlers (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

22 Jan 2025 · International relations

Meeting with Johannes Ten Broeke (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra), Myriam Jans (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

15 Jan 2025 · Introduction of Director VNO-NCW with Head of Cabinet Han ten Broeke

Meeting with Kerstin Jorna (Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

15 Jan 2025 · Various current affairs

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Jan 2025 · Sustainability, health

Meeting with Wopke Hoekstra (Commissioner) and

12 Dec 2024 · New Commission, Draghi report, Clean Industrial Deal

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and BUSINESSEUROPE and Koninklijke Bouwend Nederland

10 Dec 2024 · Public procurement

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Dec 2024 · Digital Euro

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Nov 2024 · Industrial policy

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2024 · EU energy and industrial policy

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2024 · Digital Euro

Meeting with Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Nov 2024 · Clean industrial deal and innovations

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Nov 2024 · Concurrentiepositie

Meeting with Bart Groothuis (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Nov 2024 · European clean industrial deal

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Nov 2024 · Priorities Dutch companies

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Oct 2024 · ECON files

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · Exchange of views

Meeting with Rachel Blom (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Reinier Van Lanschot (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · Introduction of the VNO-NCW and general discussion on the next 5 years

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · Skills and social policy

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · groen investeringsklimaat

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2024 · Unfair competition third countries

Meeting with Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Oct 2024 · Gendergelijkheid

Meeting with Anna Strolenberg (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Oct 2024 · Labor migration and biosolutions

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Oct 2024 · SMEs and regulatory burdens

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Oct 2024 · Industrial and energy policy

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

3 Oct 2024 · Transition and subsidies

Meeting with Kim Van Sparrentak (Member of the European Parliament) and EuroCommerce and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

17 Sept 2024 · Expectations for IMCO for the new mandate

Dutch industry group VNO-NCW urges EU to scrap redundant rules

11 Sept 2024
Topic — Evaluation of EU rules targeting aggressive tax planning and corporate tax avoidance.
Message — VNO-NCW requests a reassessment of tax rules that may be redundant. They want to reduce administrative burdens and create a uniform approach.12
Why — Lower compliance costs would encourage business investments in the green transition.34
Read full response

Meeting with Brigitte Van Den Berg (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Sept 2024 · Competitiveness and green transition

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · CEO EU Industry Table

Meeting with Thijs Reuten (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · EU agenda 2024-2029

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Sept 2024 · IMCO files

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Aug 2024 · IMCO & ECON files

Meeting with Dirk Gotink (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Jul 2024 · Various subjects

Meeting with Bert-Jan Ruissen (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Jul 2024 · MKB

Meeting with Kim Van Sparrentak (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2024 · Expectations for new mandate

Meeting with Sebastian Kruis (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2024 · Introduction

Meeting with Auke Zijlstra (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

17 Jul 2024 · Algemeen Financieel-economisch beleid

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2024 · Internal market law

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2024 · Dutch commerce

Response to Options for support for R&D of dual-use technologies

30 Apr 2024

This paper presents the views of The Confederation of the Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO NCW), representing 90 percent of the Dutch business community on the EU Economic Security Strategy and Economic Security Package. Considering the efforts of the European Commission to strengthen the European security and economic resiliency by enhancing existing policy tools and the development of new policy initiatives VNO NCW welcomes the opportunity to share and discuss our views related to this matter.
Read full response

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Apr 2024 · Staff Level: Digital policy

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

19 Mar 2024 · investment climate for sustainability

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Mar 2024 · Late Payments

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and FEDIL - The Voice of Luxembourg's Industry and VERBOND VAN BELGISCHE ONDERNEMINGEN / FEDERATION DES ENTREPRISES DE BELGIQUE

6 Mar 2024 · Social dialogue, economic growth and job creation

Response to Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation

7 Feb 2024

Call for evidence regarding review GDPR 2024 Input from VNO-NCW/MKB Nederland The Dutch Confederation of Dutch Industries and employers (VNO-NCW/MKB-Nederland) welcomes the opportunity to provide input for the evaluation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2024. We underwrite the input provided by our umbrella association Business Europe. In addition, we take the opportunity to highlight some important issues from the specific perspective of businesses in the Netherlands. We appreciate the effort the EC puts into the review of the GDPR. Many companies and other organisations, big and small, take part in the global digital economy, an economy that does not recognize borders. As a result of (fast) technological developments and data flows the digital economy will be able to expand in the near future and, for instance, making it possible for SMEs to take their part in the digital economy which is an essential development for their resilience and sustainable development. New European legislation initiatives such as the AI Act, Data Act, Digital Services Act, Digital Market Act and Data Governance Act have the ambition to empower such growth and strengthen the position of Europe in the global market. We welcomed the introduction in 2016 of the harmonized European Act for the protection of personal data. The harmonized GDPR intends to unify rules in the European Union to protect personal data. The open and technical neutral norms intend to offer the agility to adapt the rules to future (technological) developments. However, in practice, much of the intended harmonization and adaptiveness does not come to pass. Businesses are unfortunately still too often confronted with different national interpretations of the GDPR as well as diverging national implementation of the GDPR. This makes the implementation of the GDPR even more complex and leads to legal uncertainty for businesses, not least for SMEs. This also leads to high (unnecessary) administrative costs as well as fragmentation within the European Union which has a negative effect on the intended level playing field and weakens the EU's position in the global market (for instance regarding AI). Summary 1. A holistic approach is needed. To protect personal data while strengthening the economic position of the Netherlands and Europe, it is important not to view protection of personal data in isolation, but in relation to other fundamental rights and legitimate interests. We recommend making targeted amendments and include explicit clarifications in the GDPR. 2. Underline the no-hierarchy basis of Article 6 3. Clarification specific needs SMEs in GDPR 4. Mitigate backlogs -include clarification in the GDPR that DPAs should make use of the whole toolkit 5. Data Subject rights a proportionate approach is key 6. EU Training program DPOs to create level playing field 7. Promote Codes of Conduct include clarification facultative character of appointing monitoring body article 42 8. Fragmentation in EU - 9. International transfers trusted free flow of data 10. GDPR and innovation / new technologies alignment is needed between the GDPR and new EU legislative proposals
Read full response

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Feb 2024 · Late Payments

Meeting with Bas Eickhout (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

23 Jan 2024 · Environmental policy developments

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Jan 2024 · Single Market, burden SMEs

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

8 Dec 2023 · Meeting due diligence directive

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Dec 2023 · Late Payments

Meeting with Anja Haga (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

16 Nov 2023 · UN-binding instrument on business and human rights

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Nov 2023 · Work visit (Dag van de Ondernemer)

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Sept 2023 · Staff Level: Digital policy

Meeting with Pablo Fabregas Martinez (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean), Rachel Smit (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

25 Sept 2023 · Revision of the passenger rights regulation and travel package directive.

Meeting with Maarten Verwey (Director-General Economic and Financial Affairs)

21 Sept 2023 · Meeting with Focco Vijselaar

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

19 Sept 2023 · Staff level: CSDD Directive

Response to Establishing the digital euro

8 Sept 2023

For businesses, the introduction of a digital euro would need a convincing argumentation. As we will argue, this argumentation is not yet there. Furthermore, any future digital euro will have to be low cost not only for consumers but also for business; it must be safe in all aspects; and it should be efficient and provide additional advantages compared to existing means of payment. To these ends, the following is essential in making the digital euro a success; - Many of the macro-economic arguments that are used in favor of the new currency are not convincing enough to warrant such a significant shift in monetary policy. For instance, the digital euro can only break down market power of large non-EU payment schemes if it can be run on existing EU-infrastructure. We believe that the acclaimed advantages of the new currency for financial stability and inclusion are also questionable. - However, a digital euro could be useful for business if it facilitates intra-European payments. In order for this to happen, it has to become clear how the digital euro interacts with private initiatives also aimed at improving cross border payments: Do public and private initiatives boost or contradict each other? - Secondly, an offline version of the new currency, as proposed by the Commission, could further facilitate intra-EU payments. - To capitalize on these potential advantages, costs and compensation schemes urgently need to become more concrete. The new currency may be free for consumers, but it will not be for businesses. Therefore, public financing should be on the table. The new currency has to be cheaper for business than the most efficient of the current systems in order to stimulate its uptake and make it a viable payment solution, even more so when entrepreneurs will have an obligation to accept the digital euro. - We appreciate the fact that the Commission addresses aspects of the digital euro like anti-money laundering and privacy hazards, but we would like to see these aspects worked out in more detail in order to determine their effectiveness and potentially negative impact. - Lastly, we are pleased to see that the digital euro as proposed will not be programmable, meaning that both consumers as well as business are free to use the new currency in any way they prefer.
Read full response

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

7 Sept 2023 · Right to Repair

Meeting with Esther De Lange (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

6 Sept 2023 · NZIA - APA

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

7 Jul 2023 · INI on Better Law-Making covering 2020, 2021 and 2022 + INI on monitoring the application of European Union Law in 2020, 2021 and 2022

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jul 2023 · Discussion on European economic security

Meeting with Zaneta Vegnere (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

3 Jul 2023 · Economic Security

Meeting with Isabelle Perignon (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

16 Jun 2023 · consumers - package travel directive

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

6 Jun 2023 · Implementation of Green Deal policies

Meeting with Kim Van Sparrentak (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

1 Jun 2023 · AI & MKB

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and DIGITALEUROPE

30 May 2023 · Right to Repair

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

30 May 2023 · CRMA

Meeting with Joost Korte (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) and Rabobank and

24 May 2023 · EU social policy making, European Pillar of Social Rights and future initiatives

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament)

24 May 2023 · EP legislation

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

24 May 2023 · EU-Australia FTA

Meeting with Michiel Hoogeveen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

10 May 2023 · Forced Labour

Meeting with Jan Huitema (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion) and BUSINESSEUROPE

9 May 2023 · Nature Restoration Law Breakfast session

Meeting with Esther De Lange (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Apr 2023 · Nature Restoration Law - APA

Meeting with Gert Jan Koopman (Director-General Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood)

23 Mar 2023 · Enlargement

Meeting with Bart Groothuis (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

15 Mar 2023 · Chips Act

Meeting with Vera Tax (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Mar 2023 · CO2 standards of vehicles (Assistant participated)

Meeting with Esther De Lange (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Mar 2023 · Introductory meeting - APA

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Mar 2023 · Competitiveness, Net Zero Industry Act, critical raw materials

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

14 Mar 2023 · Meeting due diligence directive

Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

8 Mar 2023 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

7 Mar 2023 · Dialoog Nederlandse retail over diverse onderwerpen

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Mar 2023 · Territorial Supply Restrictions

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Feb 2023 · Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

27 Feb 2023 · IED

Meeting with Valdis Dombrovskis (Executive Vice-President) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

16 Feb 2023 · Critical Raw Materials package

VNO-NCW backs EU tax reform but warns on intangibles

26 Jan 2023
Topic — The European Commission is consulting on a common framework for EU corporate income taxation.
Message — The group supports a consolidated tax base but demands that new rules recognize intangible assets like intellectual property. They also call for a system where companies file a single annual tax return for the whole EU.123
Why — This would lower administrative red tape and reduce corporate tax compliance costs.4
Impact — EU member states risk losing tax revenue if the profit allocation formula changes.5
Read full response

Meeting with Jan Huitema (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

25 Jan 2023 · Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Jan 2023 · SMEs

Meeting with Rob Rooken (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

23 Jan 2023 · AI Act

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

23 Jan 2023 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Jan 2023 · New Years Reception

Meeting with Antonius Manders (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

14 Dec 2022 · Single Market Emergency Instrument

Meeting with Agnes Jongerius (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Dec 2022 · Platform work directive

Meeting with Rob Rooken (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

14 Dec 2022 · AI Act

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Dec 2022 · SMEI and due diligence

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

13 Dec 2022 · Pay Transparency

Meeting with Bart Groothuis (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

13 Dec 2022 · Chips Act

Meeting with Esther De Lange (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Dec 2022 · Green Deal files

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

30 Nov 2022 · Green Deal

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Nov 2022 · FF55

Meeting with Antonius Manders (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Nov 2022 · CEO EU-Industrietafel

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Nov 2022 · International trade, free trade agreements

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Nov 2022 · International trade

Meeting with Antonius Manders (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

24 Oct 2022 · Due Diligence

Meeting with Agnes Jongerius (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Sept 2022 · Platform work directive

Response to Proposal on the conditions for the remuneration of third country recorded music played in the EU

22 Sept 2022

Input Call for evidence – DG Connect I.2 Copyright September 22, 2022 The Commission is considering an initiative that would introduce rules for third country nationals, whether natural or legal persons, by amending the article 8 (2) of the Directive 2006/115/EC on rental and lending rights (RLR directive). We fully support this initiative and hope for rapid implementation. Article 8 (2) provides for a remuneration right for performers and record producers, irrespective of nationality, when their sound recordings are used i.e. broadcast to the public. On the other hand, the WPPT treaty to which the EU is a party, allows countries to limit this right or not to apply the right at all on the basis of the so-called principle of material reciprocity (article 4 (2)). Before the European Court of Justice gave its ruling in the RAAP judgment in September 2020, Dutch legislation was provided with material reciprocity. In the RAAP judgement, the EU Court of Justice held that as the RLR directive makes no reference to national law, Member States cannot themselves choose the beneficiaries of the right to remuneration. In the Netherlands, the RAAP judgement has led to an immediate change of law per January 2021. Subsequently this has led to substantial increases in payments for the Dutch business community/users of music rights to the Dutch collective management society ‘Sena’. These hugely increased contributions do not benefit performers and producers of phonograms established in the Netherlands, nor in the EU. The collected money flows abroad. It will only benefite performers and producers from certain third countries such as the US. The RAAP judgment therefore has major, undesirable consequences for all parties involved. An early amendment of Article 8 (2) is therefore of great importance. We highly recommend that in this matter not only copyright experts and rightholders will be approached intensively, but also the representatives of the entrepreneurs with payment obligations. Until now we have to be informed about the progress, the digital meeting of NTT Data and the existence of this 'call for evidence' by the Dutch Ministry of Justice. The opinion of payers is already important, and not only in the follow-up action indicated in this ‘call for evidence' with which the Commission will shortly launch a targeted (public) consultation to collect more detailed feedback from stakeholders on certain specific aspects of the issue. We support the consideration of the EC that EU action is needed to amend Article 8(2) in order to apply material reciprocity under the WPPT. Failure to amend Article 8(2) will be to the detriment of all parties involved in the EU. For Member States in which the payments already took place before the RAAP judgment, the amendment to article 8, (2) will have the consequence that they too no longer let money flow to third countries but to performers in their own country or the EU. If the EC decides that the amendment to Article 8, (2) should not be taken up collectively, we request that it should at least make it possible for the individual Member States to limit this right or not to apply the right at all. This can be justified because the EU countries have different collection systems and as a result the current consequences of the RAAP judgment, hit the performers and payers of one country harder than the other.
Read full response

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Sept 2022 · Industrial Emissions Directive

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

30 May 2022 · Pay Transparency

Dutch business lobby warns of unworkable EU sustainability rules

23 May 2022
Topic — Consultation on new rules for corporate sustainability due diligence across value chains.
Message — VNO-NCW urges the EU to align rules with OECD guidelines and limit due diligence to upstream supply chains. They recommend transforming the directive into a regulation to ensure a level playing field.123
Why — This would reduce administrative costs and provide greater legal certainty for businesses.45
Impact — Human rights groups lose the ability to hold companies accountable for downstream product misuse.6
Read full response

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

11 May 2022 · geopolitics and green deal

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

11 May 2022 · Due diligence SME

Meeting with Annie Schreijer-Pierik (Member of the European Parliament)

11 May 2022 · Reception

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

4 May 2022 · Foreign Subsidies, Consumer Policy

Meeting with Lara Wolters (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

3 May 2022 · Due diligence SME

Meeting with Bas Eickhout (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

3 May 2022 · Sustainable finance

Response to Minimum level of taxation for large multinational groups

6 Apr 2022

Please find our feedback attached.
Read full response

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

23 Mar 2022 · Industry Strategy / Chips Act

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Feb 2022 · CSDD

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and

8 Feb 2022 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Meeting with Jivka Petkova (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

3 Feb 2022 · Exchange on the planned VNO-NCW Conference in May 2022

Meeting with Malik Azmani (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Jan 2022 · Arbeidsmigratie

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

20 Jan 2022 · Sustainable corporate governance

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

7 Dec 2021 · Rule of Law

Meeting with Agnes Jongerius (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Dec 2021 · European social policy

Meeting with Agnes Jongerius (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Nov 2021 · European social policy

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

28 Oct 2021 · Green Deal/FF55/COP26

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

28 Oct 2021 · Green Deal, Fit for 55

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

12 Oct 2021 · Speech on the Fit for 55 Package at Online seizoensopening VNO-NCW en MKB-Nederland

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

28 Sept 2021 · Meeting on the European Green Deal

Meeting with Agnes Jongerius (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2021 · General exchange of views

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President) and Koninklijke Vereniging MKB-Nederland

13 Jul 2021 · Fit for 55 and due diligence

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

17 May 2021 · Pay Transparency

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

30 Apr 2021 · Meeting on Minimum Wage, cross-border workers in the Benelux region and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

9 Apr 2021 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

23 Feb 2021 · the European Green Deal

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and

12 Jan 2021 · due diligence

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

7 Dec 2020 · Implementing the Green Deal, role of SME's

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

11 Nov 2020 · European Green Deal, Climate and energy transition

Meeting with Maarten Verwey (Director-General Economic and Financial Affairs)

9 Oct 2020 · Call with Head of the VNO on the Recovery Plan for Europe

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

9 Sept 2020 · Speech at the VNO-NCW Webinar on the European Green Deal

Response to Pharmaceutical Strategy - Timely patient access to affordable medicines

7 Jul 2020

EU Pharma Strategy: VNO-NCW & MKB-Nederland response 06.07.2020 The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) and The Royal Association MKB-Nederland are the largest Dutch industry and employers' organisations, representing around 90 percent of private business. VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on roadmap on the future of the pharmaceutical industry in the European Union. The current COVID-19 pandemic is in many ways a symbolic microcosm of the ongoing debates about the pharmaceutical sector. On the one hand the enormity of the impact of the pandemic makes evident the necessity of an up-to-date legal framework that can speedily adapt to novel processes, an expedient system of licensing procedures, and a political and fiscal climate that is conducive to innovation/R&D of new treatments. On the other hand, the widespread nature of the health crisis also puts an emphasis on the affordability of, hopefully rapid, vaccines and cures. COVID-19 is merely a harbinger of potential threats to the health of Europe’s citizens and underlines the need for a strong EU medical eco-system. Please find the enclosed document with our entire response and appraciation.
Read full response

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

13 Nov 2019 · Green Deal and sustainability transition

Meeting with Gert Jan Koopman (Director-General Budget)

13 Nov 2019 · MFF

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

12 Nov 2019 · discussion on business and sustainable development

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 Mar 2019 · Future of Europe debate

Response to More efficient law-making in social policy: identification of areas for an enhanced move to qualified majority voting

16 Jan 2019

The EU should give direction to social policy not by taking away responsibilities from Member States but by supporting and complementing Member States to act in the field of social policy. The Treaty clearly defines which areas of social policy fall under qualified majority voting and which areas fall under unamity (core pillars of national socio-economic systems; they are related to how Member States define the different rights and responsibilities of citizens in their country). There are very good reasons to remain these unanimity voting rules because social policy is of key importance for each Member State where social protection systems are divers not in the least because of the national level of expenditures. The EU should not interfere in national social systems, national issues and competences. More qualified majority voting in the field of social policy would take away Member States' responsibilities and will have the unwanted effect that people will move further away from the EU.
Read full response

Response to Amendments to the implementing rules on solvency applicable to insurers

7 Dec 2018

There is an Europe-wide trend of insurers reducing their investments in equity (both stock exchange traded and private). There are many reasons for this, but the most important one is Solvency II, which entered into effect on 1-1-2016. To invest in equity, an insurer has to keep 39% of the amount as a capital buffer (for equity in the EEA) and 49% for outside the EEA. For companies it is key to have access to capital and willingness of insurers to invest and take shares in listed and non-listed companies. From that perspective we, as an association for employers in the Netherlands, prefer a more favourable treatment of equity under Solvency II. The proposals from the commission are very disappointing. It will reduce the capital buffer amount to 22%, but under conditions that are impossible to meet: the investments have to be ringfenced; the average holding period has to be 12 years; and it only applies to EER equity. These conditions does not lead to diversification benefits for insurers’ investment portfolios. Next to this a 12 year average holding period leads to a seriously deficient risk management for the equity portfolio. In this way listed and non-listed companies will not benefit from the commission’s proposal. From a perspective of the Capital Markets Union, we would urge you to reconsider the conditions to make them suitable for insurers. Many companies in the Netherlands and other EU members would benefit greatly from additional risk bearing capital provided by institutional investors such as insurers. We are sure that it is possible to do this without increasing the risks for policyholders.
Read full response

Response to Free allocation of emission allowances

23 Nov 2018

VNO-NCW has been supporting EU ETS as the main driver for European industry to reduce emissions and to incentivise investments in low carbon technologies, provided that the competitive position of the energy-intensive industry is guaranteed. Following the revised EU ETS Directive, VNO-NCW would like to give the following feedback on recently published initiatives by the European Commission. 1. Fall-back benchmarks’ methodology needs to remain unchanged for ETS 4. The methodology for the determination of fall-back benchmarks should be left unchanged. So not based on emission data collection, but based on technology efficiency and widely available fuels. 2. Activity changes: absolute threshold needs to be added. As the new directive states, if activity changes with more than 15%, free allowances are adjusted. However, the negotiation outcome also includes the possibility for an absolute threshold. This is important for larger efficient installations that have difficulty to reach the relative threshold, but where an absolute threshold can result in a significant allowance update. 3. Electric boilers should not be excluded. Electrification of heat processes in the industry offers an important opportunity to make industrial production more sustainable. Electric boilers in particular offer the added value of flexible deployment. Therefore should heat produced with an electric boiler also be eligible to receive free allowances. Exclusion suppresses the desirable transition from e.g. gas to electricity (‘electrification’). 4. Heat benchmark should not penalise efficiency. In case a heat benchmark sub-installation improves efficiency this results in lower use of heat. Free allowances will nevertheless be reduced because they are based on heat usage. This should not be the case as it removes an incentive for efficiency improvement. In comparison, in case a product benchmark sub-installation improves efficiency this does not result in less free allowances as the latter is based on production. This gives the right incentive for improvement which also should apply for heat benchmarks. 5. The emission factor of electricity should remain realistic. This means it should not be calibrated to zero based on wind. 6. Process emissions sub-installations. The multiplied correction factor should remain unchanged. This justifies the situation that the CO2 emission is a part of the chemical reaction stoichiometry and cannot be influenced. 7. Data collection by Member States should be done in a uniform way. It needs to be ensured that data collection for the product benchmarks and initial activity level is done in an equal manner in all Member States. 8. Scrutiny of the benchmark update and initial activity level by an independent party. Because of the high importance of correct determination of the free allocation to installations and the high complexity of doing this in a correct manner, this should be verified by an independent party. It will strengthen the free allocation process and increases endorsement of all parties.
Read full response

Response to Amendment of the EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR)

23 Nov 2018

VNO-NCW has been supporting EU ETS as the main driver for European industry to reduce emissions and to incentivise investments in low carbon technologies, provided that the competitive position of the energy-intensive industry is guaranteed. Following the revised EU ETS Directive, VNO-NCW would like to give the following feedback on recently published initiatives by the European Commission. 1. CCU needs to be included. CCU definition and when products/processes are CCU needs to be included. At the moment, CCU is only considered for calcium carbonate. For the benefit of developing a true circular economy, CCU should be enabled for a broader range of processes and other innovative products. Facilitating a true discussion with relevant stakeholders and using the life cycle assessment parameters would enable transparent criteria to be developed, We look forward for the next consultation, for which we can provide more detailed feedback on the MRR rules. 2. CCS needs to included boat/rail/car transported CO2. Also transport of CO2 with other means than pipes, like boat/rail/car, to a CCS site should count as CCS.
Read full response

Meeting with Michelle Sutton (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

15 Nov 2018 · Consumer law package

Meeting with Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom)

27 Jun 2018 · Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

27 Jun 2018 · Future of EU and institutional developments

Meeting with Bernardus Smulders (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

19 Jun 2018 · Conference on Better Regulation in Telecommunication

Meeting with Michelle Sutton (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

4 Apr 2018 · New Deal for Consumers

Meeting with Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom)

9 Jan 2018 · Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU

Meeting with Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom)

21 Feb 2017 · Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU

Meeting with Bernardus Smulders (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and Fokker Technologies

20 Sept 2016 · European Defense Industry

Meeting with Bernardus Smulders (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

14 Jun 2016 · Digital single market

Meeting with Christian Burgsmueller (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

20 Apr 2016 · TTIP; CETA; Mercosur; China

Meeting with Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and BUSINESSEUROPE and Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V.

10 Mar 2016 · China MES

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

6 Feb 2016 · Speech: "Our world challenged; the challenges we face today at national, EU and global level"

Meeting with Maria Asenius (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and

28 Jan 2016 · China MES

Meeting with Jocelyn Fajardo (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc), Matej Zakonjsek (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

1 Oct 2015 · aviation package and road package

Meeting with Cecile Billaux (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Jon Nyman (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

24 Sept 2015 · Trade policy overview

Meeting with Maarten Verwey (Director-General Structural Reform Support)

1 Sept 2015 · Courtesy visit

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

1 Jun 2015 · EFSI

Meeting with Alexander Italianer (Director-General Competition)

21 May 2015 · To make acquaintance

Meeting with Hilde Hardeman (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

12 Mar 2015 · Investment Plan and Circualar Economy

Meeting with Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and

11 Feb 2015 · TTIP and Russia

Meeting with Sarah Nelen (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

15 Jan 2015 · Sustainable development and circualr economy

Meeting with Sarah Nelen (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

15 Jan 2015 · Sustainable development and circular economy