Earlier this year, the draft agendas were presented by the facilitators Henk Nijboer (social agenda) and Jakob Klompien (economic agenda) and received positively in Groningen and North Drenthe. Afterwards, residents, members of the Provincial States, and municipal councils had the opportunity to provide input on the agendas. The feedback from both residents and representatives was then processed.

State Secretary Van Marum and Minister Van Hijum: ‘With the social agenda, we offer Groningen and North Drenthe more opportunities for children, less poverty and debt, good health, and better livability. With 16 concrete measures, we are investing together in the entire region.’

The measures from the social agenda are built on three foundations: promoting community spirit and pride, being there earlier when people need help, and structurally addressing fundamental problems. Significant investments are being made in livability, for example, in community centers and other places where people gather. There is also investment in childrens development by offering extra music or sports lessons in schools. Additionally, investments are made in reading and digital skills. Furthermore, people living in poverty receive help from a buddy, and those with debts become financially stronger.

The economic agenda aims to ensure a flourishing, sustainable, and future-proof regional economy, improving entrepreneurship and earning capacity, driving innovation, and developing and retaining talent in the region. Investments will be made in education and the labor market, space for businesses, digitalization, and profiling. In addition to these generic investments, the economic agenda also invests in five specific themes: sustainable energy, health, agriculture, industry, and the leisure economy.

In the coming period, the implementation of the agendas will be initiated. Just as the agendas were created, this will be done in careful coordination with all stakeholders in the region, including residents, organizations, volunteers, and experts. Together with the insulation approach, which began gradually on June 3, the social and economic agendas provide perspective for the residents of Groningen and North Drenthe.

Today, State Secretary Van Marum also sends the cabinet response to the previously presented State of Groningen and North Drenthe to the House. In this report, independent researchers report annually on damage handling, the reinforcement operation, the sustainability task, and the policy for social and economic perspective, two years after the conclusions of the parliamentary inquiry into gas extraction. This way, the generational-long commitment in the region is monitored annually, and the policy can be adjusted where necessary. This first State mainly focused on the progress of damage handling and the reinforcement task. With the following editions, the effects of the social and economic agendas will gradually become visible, for example, how employment development, equal opportunities for children and youth, and social livability for neighborhoods and villages in the region are progressing.

Before the cabinet response was drafted, the cabinet held many discussions with residents, social organizations, and officials over the past two months.