The Netherlands National Handbook on Decision-Making in Crisis Situations Explanatory notes Article 3 General As the minister responsible for the organisation, functioning and coherence of crisis management policy and for coordinating the policy and associated system, the Minister of Security and Justice chairs the MCMC. The standard deputation arrangement will apply to the Ministerial Committee, currently in his absence the Minister of Security and Justice will be replaced by the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The Prime Minister (Minister of General Affairs) may choose to assume the chair at any time. In his absence this is the Deputy Prime Minister designated in accordance with the standard deputation arrangement. To ensure that a coherent approach is taken to situations in which national security is (or may be) at risk or which have (or may have) serious consequences for society, central government can take political and administrative responsibility for coordination and decision-making regarding the full spectrum of actions to be taken in cooperation with public and private partners. In such situations, the Ministerial Crisis Management Committee (MCMC) can be convened under article 25, paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure for the Cabinet. This Order concerns the MCMC’s organisation and procedures, and the advice and assistance it receives from civil servants; these matters are described in further detail in the National Handbook on Decision-Making in Crisis Situations. The Order establishing the MCMC and the National Handbook have been revised and readopted by the Cabinet. Article 2 The MCMC can be convened if national security is (or may be) at risk. National security is at risk if the vital interests of the State and/ or society are threatened to the extent that there is actual or potential social disruption. This may involve disruption to or loss of vital infrastructure (e.g. electricity, ICT, and water systems), floods, infectious diseases, animal diseases, nuclear incidents or a terrorist threat or attack.1 Examples of situations that have serious consequences for society include local or regional incidents or accidents with many casualties, incidents or accidents abroad with a large number of Dutch victims, or events in the Netherlands that are of national or international significance. In such situations, the knowledge and expertise available at the responsible ministries must be mobilised promptly and appropriately and made available to the MCMC. A coherent approach is necessary because the uncoordinated exercise of powers can be inefficient and even counterproductive. The ministers concerned will exercise their powers in agreement with the MCMC’s decisions. The MCMC will not appropriate any powers from any minister or take decisions on matters that particularly concern a minister who is not present at a meeting. For instance, no decisions will be taken on defence personnel or equipment in the absence of the Minister of Defence. The MCMC’s decisions form a framework for the decisions taken by public and private partners. 1 8 National Security Strategy, Parliamentary Papers, House of Representatives 2006-2007, 30 821, nos. 1 and 3. In agreement with the Prime Minister (Minister of General Affairs), the Committee’s chair will invite other ministers to join the Committee. He will also decide whether a state secretary may participate in a meeting. After consultation with the minister or state secretary directly involved in the matter at hand, the chair will, at their request or otherwise, invite an expert to attend the meeting. Such experts may have expertise in a particular area or be expert representatives of other public authorities, public services or vital sectors. The component parts of the national crisis organisation will be structured and organised in such a way as to promote close cooperation within the network of public and private partners and embed relevant knowledge and expertise in the national crisis organisation. Article 4 As with the list of decisions of a Cabinet subcommittee, the list of the MCMC’s decisions requires the Cabinet’s approval. If the MCMC’s decisions cannot be delayed, prior approval of the list is not required. Article 5 The Interdepartmental Crisis Management Committee (ICMC), consisting of representatives of the various ministries at DirectorGeneral (DG)/Deputy Director-General or Secretary-General (SG) level, will advise the MCMC’s chair on a case-by-case basis on whether the MCMC should be convened and subsequently on coordination and decision-making. The MCMC and the ICMC will be supported by the Interdepartmental Coordination Group (ICG), and a multidisciplinary staff that will be consulted as and when necessary and flexibly organised and selected, for instance to provide information, insight and opinions, and to advise on specific matters, crisis communication or accountability to parliament. The Prime Minister, Minister of General Affairs M. Rutte