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Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen
Policy statement
"The direction we take in the Netherlands depends largely on what is happening in the world around us. We cannot act as if we are alone in the world. This is why I believe in making an active international contribution. This is the only way to ensure our safety and security, to safeguard our environment and our prosperity. We do not do this alone; we work together with our partners in the European Union, NATO and the United Nations.
Human rights are central to my policy. They apply to all people, in all places, at all times. When human rights are under threat, the Netherlands takes a stand. This is also in our own best interest: a world in which rights are respected is a safer, more cooperative place, one more conducive to trade and investment.
In places where there is little prospect of peace, and where
extremists and terrorists run rampant, the Netherlands helps in
finding solutions. We are active in Afghanistan, for example, and
the Middle East. Our involvement usually takes the form of
political action, but we also offer development aid where it is
needed and military assistance when all other options have been
exhausted.I represent not only Dutch interests in general, but also
the interests of every Dutch person abroad. When holidaymakers,
businesspeople and expats are in need of consular assistance, they
have to be able to count on our Ministry and its embassies."
Curriculum vitae
Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen was born in Maastricht on 14
September 1956.
After completing his secondary education, he studied history at
the University of Leiden, graduating in 1986.
From 1984 to 1987, Mr Verhagen worked as assistant to an MP for
the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA). Later on, he joined the
parliamentary staff for the CDA, where he was given responsibility
for European Affairs, Development Cooperation and Trade Policy.
Up to 1989, he represented the CDA on the Oegstgeest municipal
council, becoming leader of the council’s CDA faction in 1986. He
was a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994. He was
then elected to the House of Representatives, becoming leader of
the CDA parliamentary party in 2002.
Mr Verhagen has also been vice-chair of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and of the permanent parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, and a board member of the Eduardo Frei Foundation, the Netherlands Atlantic Association, the European Movement and Nijmegen University’s Parliamentary History Foundation. He has also been a member of the supervisory board of Free Voice, a media organisation that lobbies for freedom of the press in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
On 22 February 2007, Mr Verhagen was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the fourth Balkenende government.
After the fall of the government on 20 February 2010, Her Majesty the Queen accepted the resignation of the Labour (PvdA) ministers and state secretaries, including Mr Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation and Mr Frans Timmermans, Minister for European Affairs. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, will take over their tasks for the time being. The Queen also asked the caretaker government to work towards the early dissolution of the House of Representatives of the States General so that a general election can be held on 9 June 2010.