On this day, Prime Minister of The Netherlands Mark Rutte and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker - together with all other Commissioners - will have a meeting in Amsterdam, followed by a joint press conference, marking the start of the six-month Dutch presidency.

The Netherlands is assuming the Presidency of the EU in difficult circumstances, circumstances which make clear the urgent necessity of European cooperation. We are currently contending with extremism, migration and a complex and fragile situation on the Union's borders.

Many people are looking to Europe for solutions - and rightly so, because no country can overcome these problems on its own. The Netherlands will tackle its Presidency pragmatically. What Europe needs now is not grandiose visions, but tangible results.

The Dutch Presidency will work for a European Union that focuses on essentials, actively involves Europe's people and companies, and observes the principles of transparency. It will be guided by the strategic agenda adopted by the European Council in June 2014.

The Netherlands' national Presidency programme has the following four policy priorities:

1. Migration and international security

2. Europe as an innovator and job creator

3. Sound, future-proof European finances & a robust eurozone

4. Forward-looking climate and energy policy

 

To draw attention to the start of the Dutch EU Presidency in Slovenia, Ljubljana Castle will be coloured in orange light (the Netherlands' national colour) above the city center, on Thursday the 7th January from 4:00 PM until 07:00 AM on Friday the 8th of January.