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Technical Assistance

the Ministry of Finance contributes practically to development in various countries by providing technical assistance to counterpart ministries there. The idea is that a strong and effective finance ministry is essential for policy aimed at reform, growth and employment.

What is technical assistance?

Technical assistance is (TA) defined as acknowledge transfer to third countries from or via the Ministry. It can take various forms, from seminars and short study visits to lengthy postings in the countries assisted.

Which countries does the Netherlands support?
EU candidate countries (plus new member states during the transitional period)
countries belonging to the same constituency as the Netherlands in the IMF, World Bank and EBRD
countries with which the Netherlands has a special relationship, such as former colonies and our partners in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

What does technical assistance comprise?
- policy advice
- knowledge transfer
- EU twinnings: multiyear projects in which the Ministry, sometimes with a counterpart ministry from another EU member state, assists an EU candidate country.

Areas of technical assistance

In what areas does the Ministry provide technical assistance?

Taxes
- tax investigations
- reform of tax administrations
- computerisation
- accession to the EU Customs Information System Convention
- performance management

risk management
- legislation on tax collection and the practicalities thereof.

Customs
- modernisation/strengthening of the EU’s external borders
- support for the customs laboratory
- legislation on customs
- the drafting of business strategy plans

Financial markets/financial management/financial supervision
- establishment of a market for short-term government debt instruments
- implementation of the EU directive on insurance
- management of government funds
- management of the public debt
- supervision of insurance

Corporate Governance Code
- establishment of an interministerial coordination structure for EU matters
- budget legislation
- budgetary procedures
- auditing and control
- establishment of training institutes for public finances.

Organisations

Which organisations does the Ministry of Finance work with in providing technical assistance?

In the Netherlands

Rijksacademie voor Financiën en Economie
(the National Academy for Finances and Economy)

De Nederlandsche Bank
(the Dutch central bank)

Autoriteit Financiële Markten
(the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets)

Algemene Rekenkamer
(the Netherlands Court of Audit)