On January 20, 2026, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted a motion calling on the Minister of Finance to develop a plan for merging the certification tasks (the so-called Slootweg variant) of the Government Audit Service (ADR) with the Netherlands Court of Audit.
The purpose of the adjustment is to achieve independent oversight and strengthen the assessment by the Netherlands Court of Audit. It also aims for a more efficient audit system: the audit can thereby be conducted cheaper, faster, and better. This initiative follows a peer review by international colleagues of the Netherlands Court of Audit in 2021, which resulted in several recommendations.
The House of Representatives emphasizes in the motion, considering its budgetary rights, the importance of more independent oversight that meets international standards. It is important that the chosen solution has sufficient support.
Earlier, the Senate urged adjustment
Last November, the Senate already asked the minister to develop such a transition plan in consultation with the Netherlands Court of Audit to implement it. Now, with a vote, the House of Representatives joins this with the Van der Lee/Van Berkel motion, showing broad support in both chambers of parliament for the principles of the merger variant from the Slootweg report, which places external audit oversight with the Netherlands Court of Audit.
Transition plan details and includes planning
The core of the requested transition plan is a development based on the merger variant from the Slootweg report, including a careful organization of the Netherlands Court of Audit after integrating the audit oversight. Furthermore, a clearer positioning of the ADR as internal auditor of the government. A careful elaboration of what this means for the auditors and other employees, as well as for the works councils, is paramount in this plan. The Court of Audit board, as requested by the motion, is happy to collaborate with the Minister of Finance, other ministries, and the ADR on this request from both chambers. The goal is to submit the transition plan preferably in the first quarter and in any case before summer 2026 to parliament. It will also include an indicative schedule. According to the Slootweg report, the transition process duration is approximately two years.