News item | 23-12-2022 | 4:45 pm
As of today, ministers have a code of conduct that bundles all the rules and principles they must adhere to. This concerns, for example, how they deal with ancillary activities, gifts and subsequent positions. From now on, this code of conduct and the subject of ‘integrity’ will be discussed every year in the Council of Ministers, preceded by a training course. There will also be a confidential adviser who can advise ministers on integrity issues. Minister Hanke Bruins Slot writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The code of conduct combines all current integrity rules for government officials. These rules originate from various letters to the House of Representatives, the Code of Conduct for Integrity of the State and the Code of Good Public Administration. New is the confidential adviser and the annual meeting in the Council of Ministers.
Confidential advisor
Part of the code of conduct is the appointment of a confidential adviser. The confidential adviser can advise ministers on integrity questions. In the first half of 2023, more will be known about the appointment of the confidential adviser and his precise duties and powers.
Recurring theme
The code of conduct stipulates that the cabinet will hold an annual discussion in the Council of Ministers about integrity and the code of conduct. Prior to this discussion, a training will be given, in which a certain dilemma may be central. The purpose of these talks and training sessions is to share dilemmas and learn from each other.