VROM is a political organisation operating under the leadership of the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, and the Minister of Housing, Communities and Integration. The overall objective of VROM is: "Working for a permanent quality of the living environment."
VROM works together with several organisations, groups and individuals, including local, regional national and international governments; companies and businesses; intermediary organisations and institutions; interest groups; and inhabitants of the Netherlands.
The above objective are translated into concrete aims annually in the budget of the Ministry. The most important guidelines for VROM are the following:
- Freedom in responsibility; Citizens are free to make decisions in a socially responsible way.
- Sustainable development; Managing the living environment, energy, raw material and nature in a way that will allow future generations to benefit from them optimally.
- Diversity; The quality of the living environment.
- Social justice; Satisfying expectations and wishes of the general public as well as being considerate towards the weak in our society.
VROM tries to put the above plans into practice by:
- preparing memoranda formulating the views of VROM;
- establishing legislation in co-operation with social partners;
- inspections aimed at making sure that rules are observed;
- supplying organisations and individuals with subsidies;
- influencing the social agenda in order to feature subjects and opinions important for VROM.
The roles of VROM in above are: guidance, consulting, reacting, facilitating, delegating, controlling, stimulating and inspiring partners. VROM is not an executive organ. It is primarily a policy making body that creates favourable circumstances for others. The most adequate way to describe VROM is to call it a network-ministry.
The Ministry is responsible for ensuring that environmental conditions are as good as possible. The Directorate General for Environmental Protection co-ordinates and oversees national environmental policy. It works in some highly diverse and widely ranging fields such as climate change, noise, biotechnology and environmental taxes. Another of its responsibilities is the enforcement of environmental laws.
The Netherlands has a high population density. Its economic activities and leisure activities are extensive and expanding so, not surprisingly, the quality of its environment is facing serious threats. The Netherlands government, along with the general public and the business community, are therefore looking for ways to attain sustainable development.
A recent principle of the Dutch government is to spend more money on environmental protection in order to compensate the negative effect of ongoing economic growth. The environmental policy of the Netherlands currently addresses the following themes:
- climate change;
- acidification;
- eutrophication;
- toxic and hazardous substances;
- contaminated land;
- waste disposal;
- disturbance;
- groundwater depletion.
The international dimension of environmental protection is gaining a prominent role. The Netherlands is trying to reduce the rate of correlation between pollution and economic growth. It sees the integration of the environment policy in sectors such as agriculture, transport and energy supply as an important instrument for this purpose.
Further information can be found on the VROM’s website