In a world that is changing at lightning speed, where technological and societal challenges demand foresight and decisiveness, it is shocking to see how the Netherlands allows itself to be seduced by short-term opportunism. The recent Parliamentary debate exposes a painful truth: we are willing to squander our future for temporary political gain. With the elections approaching, offering irresponsible gifts is apparently even more attractive than usual.
What happened in the general political reflections in the days after Budget Day? A majority in the House of Representatives (VVD + PVV + SP + CU + JA21 + BBB + SGP + DENK + BVNL + Group Den Haan + Omtzigt) thought it wise to freeze the excise tax on diesel and gasoline to prevent car fuels from becoming more expensive next year. The ‘gift’ would require some 1.2 billion euros. And for that, these parties suggested robbing the National Growth Fund‘s coffers. No wonder ASML’s CEO Peter Wennink – also vice chairman of the Growth Fund – was furious about it in an interview with the Eindhovens Dagblad.
The National Growth Fund was established with a major goal: to secure the long-term economic growth of the Netherlands. It is designed to support risky but necessary projects that address major societal challenges, such as the energy transition. These projects require vision, boldness, and a long-term strategy. But what do we see now? If it were up to this parliamentary majority, the growth funds would be used to reduce fuel prices. They all but renamed the Growth Fund as the Shrink Fund. A clearer example of putting the short term above the long term could hardly be imagined. In one stroke of the pen, parliament is advocating 1) a stimulus for the use of fossil fuels while we need to get rid of them as soon as possible and 2) a grab from the Growth Fund – which is precisely meant to facilitate that transition from fossil to sustainable. This is doubly wrong.
Asia
Wennink makes a reference to Asia in the interview. He sees a totally different approach in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Singapore. There, the long-term view of major social problems prevails, and a systemic approach is chosen. We can indeed take an example from these countries. Where we in the Netherlands debate every individual wind or solar farm, they look at the bigger picture. They involve large energy consumers in their plans, consider energy storage, and provide a coordinated approach. A systems approach that is painfully lacking in the Netherlands.
It is shameful – and dangerous – that we are so easily distracted by short-term interests such as a year of cheap gasoline in the Netherlands. Even worse, those interests are at odds with our duty to the generations that follow us. It is time to resist these short-term distractions and focus on what really matters: a sustainable, prosperous future for all of us. Let’s use the National Growth Fund for its intended purpose and not let it become a political plaything.
Glimmer of hope
There is still one glimmer of hope: the outgoing cabinet has made it clear in an initial response that there are major drawbacks to the plans of the occasional parliamentary majority. Still, even if the government disregards this parliamentary motion, it can no longer be denied that for the future of our children, we don’t have to turn to VVD + PVV + SP + CU + JA21 + BBB + SGP + DENK + BVNL + Group Den Haan + Omtzigt.
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