Representative
Senator
Christian Democratic Appeal
Senate - Eerste Kamer der Staten Generaal
NL - 2500 EA - The Hague
Netherlands
Working language: English
Declarations of interests:
2026
, 2025
, 2024
, 2023
Declarations of interest regarding election observations (if applicable)
28/01/2026 | 13:13:27 Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2. Chair, dear colleagues, I read this resolution and recommendation with great interest, pleasure, and agreement.With interest, because this year marks 40 years since I was elected as the youngest member of the City Council in my city Maastricht, thus beginning my political and administrative career. I was elected because my party, the Christian Democrats, reserved a preferential position on the candidate list for a member of their youth... 01/10/2025 | 17:41:04 Thank you, Mister President. Dear colleagues, It is encouraging that this Assembly is closely monitoring the progress of establishing a Claims Commission for the damages suffered - and still being suffered - by Ukrainians as a result of Russian aggression. I therefore wholeheartedly welcome Lord Richard KEEN's Opinion, which clearly outlines the current state of affairs within the preparatory bodies of the Committee of Ministers, and also guides us on how we, as an Assembly, should approach... 01/10/2025 | 16:19:32 Merci, Madam Chair. Dear colleagues, I have long hesitated to speak on the topic of youth participation. After all, one could argue that it is primarily the young people themselves who should have the floor when it comes to this subject. And since, as you all can see, I belong more to the senior ranks of Europe - and today I am yet another year older than I was yesterday - that hesitation is quite justified. And yet, when I joined a political youth organization 48 years ago, at the age of 17... 28/01/2025 | 17:40:55 Mister President, dear colleagues, Yesterday His All Holiness Patriarch BATHOLOMEW gave an impressing speech, in which he called upon all faiths to invest in mutual understanding, dialogue and living peacefully together on this one planet. And he mentioned his warm co-operation with the Roman Catholic Church, and especially the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Land, that looks after the Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. The presence of Christianity in the Middle East is and... 01/10/2024 | 12:45:36 Thank you. Mister Secretary General, also from the Netherlands, congratulations. You show engagement for the values and challenges for the Council of Europe. They are in good hands! We in Europe are a family of nations that share this common goal. Our family of nations is rich in diversity, consists of family members with different beliefs, cultural heritage, languages and political opinions. And pluralism, I think, in itself, is the strength of Europe, a strength that I cherish. Secretary...
07/07/2025 | Doc. 16223 | Motion for a resolution Justice delayed: the unfinished implementation of the Daphne Caruana Galizia case 26/06/2025 | Doc. 16220 | Written declaration On the situation of freedom of faith in Belarus 25/06/2025 | Doc. 16215 | Motion for a resolution The functioning of democratic institutions in the Slovak Republic 23/04/2025 | Doc. 16113 | Written declaration Kazakhstan: systematic violations of human rights and political freedoms through judicial, financial and transnational repression must end 06/02/2025 | Doc. 16115 | Motion for a resolution The deterioration of women's rights in Afghanistan: a need for global response
29/01/2026 | Doc. 16334, vote on the draft text for resolution Threats against the international order: the case of Greenland 28/01/2026 | Doc. 16308, vote on the draft text for recommendation Strengthening democracies with young people: from participation to shared responsibility 28/01/2026 | Doc. 16308, vote on the draft text for resolution Strengthening democracies with young people: from participation to shared responsibility 28/01/2026 | Doc. 16309, vote on the draft text for opinion Draft additional protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning the protection of human rights and dignity of persons with regard to involuntary placement and involuntary treatment within mental healthcare services 27/01/2026 | Doc. 16297, vote on the draft text for recommendation Elections in times of crisis