Netherlands
- The flag flying in front of a church (Photo: Notat)
The Netherlands have a population of 16.49 million and an area of 41,500 km2.
The Netherlands was among the six original EEC member states. After enlargement in 2004, it has 13 votes out of 345 in the Council and 25 seats out of 736 in the European Parliament.
The Lisbon Treaty will reduce the Dutch voting strength in the Council of Ministers from 3.8% today to 3.3% in 2014 when a new voting system is introduced.
62 % of the Dutch voters said no to the proposed EU Constitution in a referendum 1 June 2005. Since then a majority in the Dutch parliament have decided to ratify the Lisbon Treaty without a new referendum.
Links
Dutch Government http://www.overheid.nl/
Other official websites http://www.europarl.eu.int/enl......states_Links_en.htm#nederland/
