The Netherlands: EU Presidency, January – June 2016

The Netherlands holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2016. It wanted a Union that focused on the essentials, created growth and jobs through innovation, and connected with civil society.

The Netherlands would focus on four priority areas:

+ Migration & international security
+ Europe as an innovator & job creator
+ Sound finances and a robust eurozone
+ Forward-looking climate & energy policy

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Dutch begin media offensive on EU border controls, ahead of presidency http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-begin-media-offensive-on-eu-border-controls-ahead-of-presidency/

ESO: Background information: Trio programme. Taking forward the Strategic Agenda. 18-month programme of the EU Council for the Dutch, Slovak and Maltese Presidencies, January 2016 - June 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/trio-programme-taking-forward-the-strategic-agenda-18-month-programme-of-the-eu-council-for-the-dutch-slovak-and-maltese-presidencies-january-2016-june-2017/

Deutsche Welle, 01.01.16: 'Turbulent times' as Netherlands takes over EU presidency http://dw.com/p/1HWki

Dutch News.nl, 1.01.16: Dutch outline key issues for European presidency http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/01/dutch-outline-key-issues-for-european-presidency/

Eurostat: News: Themes in the Spotlight: The Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/news/themes-in-the-spotlight/nl-presidency

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 05.01.16: Council: Dutch MEPs share their hopes and fears for the incoming presidency http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20151211STO07038/

Politico, 07.01.16: New Dutch EU presidency vows tough line on refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-eu-presidency-tough-line-refugees-soft-poland-borders-council/

Dutch News.nl, 07.01.16: Refugee numbers must be stemmed considerably: Dutch PM http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/01/refugee-numbers-must-be-stemmed-considerably-dutch-pm/

Netherlands: EU Presidency: News, 07.01.16: Official launch of Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union http://english.eu2016.nl/latest/news/2016/01/07/official-launch-of-netherlands-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-european-union

Netherlands: EU Presidency: Programme of the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union http://english.eu2016.nl/binaries/eu2016-en/documents/publications/2016/01/07/programme-of-the-netherlands-presidency-of-the-council-of-the/nationaal-programma-engels.pdf

EurActiv, 07.01.16: EU 'long way from satisfied' with Turkish migrant cooperation http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/eu-long-way-satisfied-turkish-migrant-cooperation-320763

EUObserver, 07.01.16: EU's top priority to 'get migrant numbers down' https://euobserver.com/news/131735

Blog: 1989 Generation Initiative, 08.01.16: Double Dutch? – A domestic perspective on the Dutch EU Presidency http://89ers.blogactiv.eu/2016/01/08/double-dutch-a-domestic-perspective-on-the-dutch-eu-presidency/

Politico, 09.01.16: [Opinion]: 5 targets for the Dutch EU presidency to succeed http://www.politico.eu/article/5-targets-for-the-dutch-eu-presidency-to-succeed-schengen-uk-better-regulation/

Politico, 08.01.16: Why the EU presidency still matters, sort of http://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-eu-presidency-still-matters-mark-rutte-dutch-council-presidency/

Dutch News, 04.01.16: EU presidency to cost Dutch €46m, but the logo is recycled http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/01/eu-presidency-to-cost-dutch-e49m-but-the-logo-is-recycled/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 12.01.16: Dutch Presidency priorities discussed in committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160112IPR09521/

Blog: ACELG, 14.01.16: Netherlands takes up the EU Presidency amidst both ambitions and concerns over transparency http://acelg.blogactiv.eu/2016/01/14/netherlands-takes-up-the-eu-presidency-amidst-both-ambitions-and-concerns-over-transparency/

Grayling: Big Picture Brussels: Will the Dutch Presidency be overtaken by events? https://thewonk.eu/reports/grayling-bigpicturebrussels-on-the-dutch-eu-presidency__rd1120.html

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 26.01.16: Dutch Presidency priorities discussed in committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160126IPR11553/

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