Association of Netherlands Municipalities

Dutch local and regional authorities welcome efforts to reduce unnecessary and disproportionate regulatory burdens in the EU digital rulebook. In recent years, digital legislation has expanded significantly. Local and regional authorities have gained extensive experience in implementing this framework and have identified inconsistencies between regulations and duplicative reporting obligations.

It is important that the EC regularly reviews the digital rulebook to analyse what aspects can be improved. Unnecessary and disproportionate regulatory burdens should be reduced for public and private entities. That being said, the VNG considers it wise to follow a more thorough process that allows the EC to gather more evidence before making significant legislative proposals.

The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) supports the ambition of the European Commission to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy through a binding and practical legislative framework. Municipalities play a pivotal role in this transition as waste collectors, regulators, public procurers, and drivers of local circular initiatives.

VNG sees open-source software as a strategic enabler of digital autonomy, interoperability, and public values for local governments across Europe. Municipalities are committed to reducing vendor-lockins, enabling flexibility and reducing costs by facilitating re-use. This is in part organised via Common Ground.

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) contributes actively in the debate on solving the housing crisis from a European perspective. The VNG welcomes the European Commissions efforts to help solve the housing crisis and responded positively to the Affordable Housing Plan and relaxation of state aid rules.

Municipalities and provinces play a pivotal role in accelerating construction of affordable and sustainable housing. However, they encounter EU legislation that causes delays or increases costs. In many cases, the issue does not lie in the objectives of these rules, but rather in the way they operate in practice for housing development.

The Dutch municipalities welcome the evaluation of the Digital Rulebook and its fitness for purpose. Over the past few years, the legislative acquis on digitalisation has grown significantly. Dutch local authorities have built up lots of expertise when it comes to putting the digital regulatory framework into practice.

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities - the VNG - welcomes the initiative for the Construction Services Act. Completing the single market for the construction sector is necessary to increase the supply of affordable housing and increase European competitiveness. More ambition is needed. Therefore we recommend the European Commission to: 1.