Samenvatting

Will the Netherlands be able to keep its sovereignty in the current episode of European security and defence policies? More and more cooperation takes place at the international level in a globalised world. The European institutions get more and more control over Member States policies. All nation-states want to cooperate in the areas of economy, and that is why they support European integration. But some Member States are hesitant to give away sovereignty to a higher level in the areas of security and defence. An example of such a country is the Netherlands. Can the Dutch afford to reject European cooperation in the areas of defence and security?
Human rights are the main issue in the foreign policy programme of the Netherlands. Other priorities of the Dutch government can also be found in the external strategy of the European Union (EU). According to the Lisbon Treaty the national parliaments have many democratic rights and an active participation in the policy- and decision-making processes of the EU, so that should not be an argument against the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
The relationship between the NATO, US and the Netherlands will not change because NATO and the US support the exploration of the CFSP and they are in good relationship with the EU.
The Netherlands has to stay a member of the EU if it wants economic cooperation within the EU and if it wants to have a flourishing economy. If the Dutch want to mean something in this world it should stay a member of the EU, and make some compromises with other Member States. The Dutch just cannot say 'no' to the influence of the EU in the Dutch policy-making processes and legislations.
If the EU wants to remain credible and if it wants to be seen as a collective, big, strong power in the world, it should speak with one voice in all policy areas. Therefore, all Member States, also the smaller ones, should be willing to cooperate and give away some of its sovereignty to the EU's institutions. All Member States should see this need for coherence and therefore speak with one voice in order to be a credible player in world politics.

Recommendations
- If the Dutch government wants to gain more support to invest in the EU from its citizens, it should improve its communication and information provision towards its people. It should give the citizens more opportunities to be involved in European and Dutch foreign policy-making. The citizens should also be optimally updated about European politics because EU policies will influence them every day. This can be done by organizing more debates, discussions, and informal meetings between MPs, MEPs and citizens. Just to make the EU more vivid in every one's life.
- The national parliaments should invest more in the security and defence policies of the EU in order to become a more relevant global player (human rights, fight against terrorism).
- The national parliaments should be more willing to invest in European security and defence. Not only in expenses, but also in making compromises. They should see the need for coherence to speak as a Union with one voice.