The department for International Environmental Affairs (IMZ) within the Ministry of VROM coordinates Dutch international environmental policies, through three main divisions:

1. Bilateral Cooperation between CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) and ECE (The UN's Economic Commission for Europe);
2. European Union, OECD and Water treaties; and
3. Global Environmental Affairs.

The international environmental policies are focused on continuing a key role in fostering new environmental policy initiatives. Particularly in the area of sustainable development and the integration of environmental policy into other policy areas such as trade, economics, energy, agriculture, technology, transport and development cooperation.

The international strategy concentrates on the further development of EU environmental policy. The Netherlands works towards international environmental agreements which contain concrete environmental objectives, implementation plans and, where necessary, appropriate financing mechanisms. Further consideration is to be given to the Dutch policy on environmental investments abroad, whether the purpose is to achieve national objectives or to make a contribution to international environmental efforts. The policy stresses that Dutch environmental problems should not be shifted to other countries and that the polluter-pays principle should be respected at any cost.

According to the agreements reached in Kyoto and subsequently in the European Union, the Netherlands has a 6% emission reduction target for GHG emissions (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and the fluorinated gasses (HFCs, PFCs and SF6). The Dutch government has agreed that a substantial part of this reduction should be achieved within the Netherlands itself and the remaining part should be achieved in other countries through the three Kyoto mechanisms: the Joint Implementation Mechanism, the Clean Development Mechanism and the Emission Trading Mechanism.

In April 2001, the Ministry of VROM set up a CDM Division as part of the International Environmental Affairs Directorate. The responsibility of the division is to use the funds allocated by the Dutch government to purchase Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) from sustainable projects in developing countries in a cost-effective manner.

The environment has to be protected at the level at which it is threatened the most. The Netherlands therefore focuses her environmental policy at the European level. Complementary to decisions taken within the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE), the Netherlands believes in the role of active bilateral co-operation. Bilateral co-operation with countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and with the Newly Independent States (NIS) is a priority of The Netherlands.

Sustainable peace and stability in Central and Eastern Europe is in the Netherlands' own interest. Elements of that interest include:

1. avoiding cross-border contamination through air, water and traded goods;
2. building up sustainable partnerships in Europe; and
3. offering environmental know-how.

The most important element of co-operation with the Central and Eastern European countries for VROM is the preparation and carrying out of environmental projects. Financial contributions or loans supporting these projects are either based on national programmes or on grants via international institutions. Projects on EU accession, joint implementations to combat climate change, public participation and compliance and enforcement enjoy priority. Further ways of co-operation include e.g. study visits and workshops. (Phare Twinning is a form of posting, in which government experts from the Netherlands spend at least a year working for the institutions of EU candidate countries). VROM also offers pre-accession assistance through the MATRA and PSOM programmes. Exchange of know-how and expertise is also encouraged via visits where participants discuss experiences and ideas.

In May 2003 a European Environment Ministers' Conference took place in Kiev. Within the context of the ‘Environment for Europe’ process special attention was given to the Newly Independent States (NIS). The European Environment Ministers' Conferences in Bergen (1990), Dobcis (1991), Lucerne (1993), Sofia (1995), Aarhus (1998), and Kiev (2003) are regarded as important steps in the strengthening of East-West cooperation. The guidelines on public participation the Environmental Action Programme for CEE, and the Environmental Programme for Europe, are some of the outcomes of these conferences.

At UN level, The Netherlands has been pressing for the implementation of the Declaration of Rio and Agenda 21. The main strategy in this regard has been the strengthening of the role of the Commission for Sustainable Development. The Netherlands is a committed supporter of the United Nations Environmental Programme. Based on the Agenda 21 recommendations 0.1% of GDP is to be spent annually on the implementation of international nature and environmental policies.

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