Dutch parliamentary delegation attends plenary session of the Benelux Parliament in Luxembourg

Around forty members of parliament participated in the Benelux Parliament meeting on 20 and 21 March 2026. Among them were also representatives of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. The meeting took place in the parliament of Luxembourg.

In brief

The opening session focused on the implementation of the reports by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta on the future of European competitiveness and the future of the Benelux. During the opening, Francine Closener, Luxembourg’s President of the Benelux Parliament, emphasised that within the European Union, the Benelux remains relevant due to its strong cooperation, with Schengen being one of its most important achievements. “Our countries are unique and demonstrate that further integration is important, especially in practical implementation,” Closener said. There was a joint video address by the three Benelux prime ministers: Luc Frieden (Luxembourg), Bart de Wever (Belgium) and Rob Jetten (Netherlands). They spoke about mutual interconnectedness, the importance of cooperation and the future of the Benelux within the European Union.

Future of European competitiveness

During the first thematic debate on the afternoon of Friday, 20 March, David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture, advocated for faster realisation of Europe’s economic ambitions. In his view, the Draghi and Letta reports clearly outline what needs to be done, but the question remains whether there is sufficient political will.

The Benelux cannot replace the EU, Clarinval said, but it can provide a useful supplement thanks to its scale and long-standing tradition of cooperation. Two officials from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs explained that many of the recommendations from the Draghi and Letta reports, as well as the advice from Peter Wennink, have been incorporated into the Dutch coalition agreement. A ministerial task force has also been established: “The goal is to maintain our prosperity, with productivity growth being essential. Closer cooperation within the Benelux is important to remove daily obstacles by reducing administrative burdens and sharing best practices.”

Eric Phillippart, representing the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, stressed that it is sometimes better to abolish obligations and simplify regulations, although this is often difficult in practice. A major bottleneck, according to Phillippart, is gold-plating, where member states impose stricter rules than necessary, creating additional burdens for businesses.

Georges Rassel, President of the Luxembourg employers’ federation FEDIL, outlined the situation in his country. Various obstacles in the labour market, such as administrative burdens for foreign workers and complex regulations that complicate document processing, illustrate how excessive regulations hinder the EU’s competitiveness.

Member of the House of Representatives Jan Schoonis (D66) asked whether the Benelux could serve as a blueprint for the capital market. Senator Elly van Wijk (BBB) inquired whether agriculture is also part of the Dutch ministerial task force. The answer was affirmative. Senator Pim van Ballekom (VVD) noted that he is not optimistic about progress. Many rules still need to be abolished, and it remains uncertain whether countries will actually adopt the recommendations. Member of the House of Representatives Rachel van Meetelen (PVV) expressed concern that adopting the proposals by Draghi and Letta could undermine national sovereignty.

Future of the Benelux

Rapporteur Auke van der Goot (Senator for OPNL) led the second thematic discussion on the future of the Benelux. He emphasised that new geopolitical developments also present opportunities and that the Benelux is small enough to be agile. “The Benelux must be there for its citizens, and the future of the Benelux is not fixed—we are shaping it together,” he said.

Francis Delaporte, President of the Benelux Court of Justice, addressed the future challenges facing the Court. Ariadne Petridis, the new Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, spoke about the need for further cooperation, joint crisis exercises and pragmatic action in areas such as security, economy, energy and sustainability: “Europe must innovate and invest, but accelerating progress with 27 member states is difficult—unlike in the Benelux.” According to her, the Police Treaty and Article 350 of the EU Treaty provide a solid basis for the Benelux to act decisively and coordinate decisions at EU level without gold-plating.

Loth van de Auwermeulen of Hasselt University explained her research on the Benelux Union. She highlighted its unique position within the EU, thanks to Article 350, as well as its size, clear objectives, mutual trust and manageable geography. Since 1944, there has been a Benelux identity and a long tradition of cooperation. Many cross-border projects, such as the Einstein Telescope, demonstrate, in her view, that the Benelux can achieve even more and serve as an example in removing European obstacles.

Adopted recommendation on Schengen Agreements and other matters

On the second day of the meeting, the recommendation on the Schengen Agreements was unanimously adopted. The recommendation calls for, before reintroducing border controls within the Schengen area, first considering alternative measures such as strengthening police cooperation and combating cross-border crime, including through the Benelux Police Treaty and joint patrols.

Senator Auke van der Goot reported on the 2025 accounts. As Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee, Van der Goot explained the agreed procedure for handling the request for advice from the Benelux Parliament regarding the resolution on the establishment of a deepened Benelux and European capital market and a broader Belgian investment structure. This advice has been requested from the Finance and Budget Committee of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives.

There was a farewell to Christien Bogaert as Secretary-General of the Benelux Parliament, with speeches by Hendrik-Jan Talsma on behalf of the Dutch delegation; Rik Janssen on behalf of the Socialist, Green and Democrat faction; Jan Schoonis on behalf of the Liberal faction; and Theo Bovens on behalf of the Christian faction. All thanked her for her boundless dedication, commitment and involvement in the Benelux Parliament and wished her successor Valérie Houart every success.

Ariadne Petridis provided an explanation of the new working methods of the Secretaries-General of the Benelux Union and presented the (updated) responses to the adopted recommendations on Hydrogen and the mutual recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications.

Dutch delegation

Fifteen members of parliament from the Netherlands participated: Senators Artie Ramsodit (GroenLinks-PvdA), Roel van Gurp (GroenLinks-PvdA), Elly van Wijk (BBB), Henk Marquart Scholtz (BBB), Pim van Ballekom (VVD), Theo Bovens (CDA), Alexander van Hattem (PVV), Ton van Kesteren (PVV), Rik Janssen (SP), Hendrik-Jan Talsma (ChristenUnie), Eddy Hartog (Volt) and Auke van der Goot (OPNL), and Members of the House of Representatives Jan Schoonis (D66), Rachel van Meetelen (PVV) and Judith Bühler (CDA).