The Government of the Netherlands has presented a plan to contain state spending through a combination of reducing paperwork and promoting artificial intelligence (AI). With this strategy, the Executive aims to eliminate 25,000 civil service positions by 2035, which would translate into savings of 3.5 billion euros in public accounts.
According to the timeline advanced by the Dutch cabinet, the adjustment will begin with a reduction in spending of 900 million euros in 2027, with the goal of reaching 3.5 billion by 2035. However, the Government itself has specified that not all public employment will be affected, as positions linked to the police and defense will be preserved.
"We cannot keep doing the same thing. (...) we must significantly reduce administrative expenses. That is why we are going to make difficult decisions to achieve a central government that truly works: simpler, more efficient, and smaller," indicated Eric van den Burg, Secretary of State for Effective Administration.
Under the leadership of Rob Jetten, the Executive will resort to technology and AI to manage public resources more efficiently, including workspaces. This approach has already allowed for the closure of "unnecessary" buildings. Additionally, the Government has committed to presenting concrete objectives and a savings plan linked to the implementation of AI in the first quarter of 2027, with the purpose of increasing productivity.
Less regulation and administrative simplification
The spending containment program is also supported by a broad regulatory review. The Government wants to reduce and eliminate some of the rules affecting residents, professionals, and businesses through a Simplification Law, which in turn will limit the future capacity to introduce new obligations and regulations.
"The cabinet wants residents and businesses to spend less effort, time, and money on unnecessary regulatory procedures. It has already been announced that the central Government will eliminate or simplify at least 500 regulations per year," reads the issued statement.
The adjustment will also affect the framework of advisory bodies and advisory committees, as well as the number of public policy evaluations. "In recent decades, numerous bodies have been created to audit, supervise, and advise. This generates a large amount of unnecessary work and hinders the resolution of complex social problems," they have explained from the Executive.