European Union

The Netherlands Court of Audit regularly audits how the money that the Netherlands receives from and pays to the European Union is spent. We examine whether European grants are spent in accordance with the rules, and whether they are effective.

And we audit what is known about problems implementing EU regulations in the Netherlands. We also assess whether the Dutch government provides a proper account of the way in which EU grants are spent.

The European Union is effectively the fourth tier of government in the Netherlands alongside the local authorities, provincial councils and central government. Virtually all policy areas are affected in some way by EU policy.

European laws must be either implemented in full (in the case of Regulations) or transposed into Dutch law (in the case of Directives). The Netherlands receives grants from the EU each year and makes annual financial contributions to the EU budget.

Information on this website is derived from public sources.