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Is the Dutch Cabinet obliged to ask the Council’s advice on all important social and economic matters?

No, the Cabinet is not obliged to ask the Council’s advice on all important social and economic matters. This obligation was repealed in 1995, but there has been no fall in the number of requests received by the Council.

If the Cabinet does not ask the Council for its advice on a matter that the latter regards as important, the Council may decide to issue an advisory report at its own initiative. As a rule, it will only do so if it believes that its advice will have the unanimous backing of all its members. Approximately 17 percent of the Council's advisory reports are issued of its own accord. Generally, these are reports that deal with matters of international policy.