News item | 12-12-2025 | 2:45 PM
The Council of Ministers has decided to take the Defense Readiness Act (Wodg) an important step further. This law reduces the regulatory burden for Defense. This enables the armed forces to operate faster and more flexibly, in order to carry out the necessary activities and training in the current ‘gray zone’ between peace and war. The Wodg is therefore crucial for the readiness of Defense. The bill will now go to the Council of State for advice. This will then be discussed in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Russian aggression, which is visible every day in Ukraine, brings the Netherlands face to face with the facts. Defense must be able to deter more aggression and meet NATO obligations to keep the military alliance secure. To achieve this, the armed forces must be prepared for all kinds of possible scenarios. This means that soldiers must also be able to practice and train in their own country. This applies in every domain: on land, sea, in the air, digitally and in space.
Realistic practice and training
The current legislation is designed for peacetime and does not take sufficient account of the current situation. Rules and procedures hinder the growth and readiness of the armed forces. Military personnel are therefore insufficiently able to build up the required capabilities and provide realistic training in the Netherlands. So it is not always the case that ‘train as you fight‘.
Defense must also be able to keep up with modern developments in the field of technology and digitalization. This applies, among other things, to the use of data, drones, sensors and artificial intelligence, but also to being prepared for cyber attacks. The aim is to be at least one step ahead of the enemy digitally. The lack of basic legal bases for working with data currently hinders Defense in this.
Simplify and shorten procedures
The Wodg must enable Defense to carry out activities that take too much time or entail too many obstacles based on current legislation and regulations. The Wodg simplifies and shortens some complex procedures. This enables Defense to build trenches on its own sites more quickly and better, for example, to conduct shooting exercises (also at night) and to train with drones.
Processing consultation
The new version of the Wodg makes extensive use of the results from the internet consultation, in which citizens, fellow authorities, organizations and companies were able to submit their views. Where possible, their responses have been incorporated into the final bill.