There needs to be a broad debate in the Netherlands about future growth scenarios and the country’s long-term perspectives, the chairman of the SER advisory body says in Friday’s Financieele Dagblad.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Wiebe Draijer told the FD drawing up an agenda for growth is now ‘extremely important’ in terms of the contents.

SER – a think-tank made up of industry, union and crown appointees – is well-placed to play an important role in this, he said.

Energy accord

Last year, the unions, employers and ministes were able to draw up a number of agreements for reform. ‘Now is the time for that crucial step towards offering perspective for the future,’ he said.

This discussion needs to focus on where the Netherlands can grow in the future and where the country’s skills are, he said.

SER was involved in drawing up a major agreement on energy supplies last year. That, Draijer pointed out, involved talking with 47 different organisations and input from 40,000 people.

Recently, a number of prominent economists and politicians have criticised the SER for being made up of ‘insiders’ without broad popular support.