Which shared long-term policy challenges do Germany and the Netherlands face? On 16 October, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) met with the German Ethics Council and the German Council of Economic Experts at the Dutch embassy in Berlin. This introductory meeting with the two advisory councils focused on 'The Future of Europe' and 'The Role of Strategic' advisory councils.
Image: © WRR
The discussions covered, among other things, the WRR’s recently published report Strategic Action and a similar advisory report by the German Council of Economic Experts, prepared jointly with its French counterpart, on EU policy on trade with China. Other topics included the future of Germany’s social security system and the risks of digital media for young people—issues on which the German councils have recently published and which are also highly relevant in the Netherlands.
Representatives of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) also joined a discussion of the WRR’s ongoing project on democracy and the rule of law in an era of hybrid warfare. The discussion highlighted how real-world developments are outpacing research in this area and how this is changing the task of providing long-term policy advice.
The afternoon was concluded with a shared understanding of the unique position of strategic advisory councils and their agenda setting role for governments