State Secretary (Netherlands)
Encyclopedia
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch
or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister. A state secretary is a member of the cabinet (and not of a house), who works under a minister
and falls under the responsibility of the minister, but is separately responsible to parliament. State secretaries take over part of the minister's portfolio. Some state secretaries have clearly defined portfolios like culture, science or the environment, while others' portfolios overlap with their minister's. State secretaries almost always have a different political affiliation than their minister. State secretaries do not attend the weekly ministerraad unless asked to do so.
Some have had impressive political careers after their secretaryship (staatssecretariaat in Dutch
). For example, Neelie Kroes
was State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management between 1977 and 1981, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management between 1982 and 1989 and served as the Dutch European Commission
er of Competition between 2004 and 2009. She is currently serving as European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, as well as one of the seven vice presidents of the European Commission.
Cabinet of the Netherlands
The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister. A state secretary is a member of the cabinet (and not of a house), who works under a minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
and falls under the responsibility of the minister, but is separately responsible to parliament. State secretaries take over part of the minister's portfolio. Some state secretaries have clearly defined portfolios like culture, science or the environment, while others' portfolios overlap with their minister's. State secretaries almost always have a different political affiliation than their minister. State secretaries do not attend the weekly ministerraad unless asked to do so.
Some have had impressive political careers after their secretaryship (staatssecretariaat in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
). For example, Neelie Kroes
Neelie Kroes
Neelie Kroes is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . She served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 3 August 1971 until 28 December 1977 when she became State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management from 28 December 1977 until 11...
was State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management between 1977 and 1981, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management between 1982 and 1989 and served as the Dutch European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
er of Competition between 2004 and 2009. She is currently serving as European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, as well as one of the seven vice presidents of the European Commission.