ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen was appointed on 20 March by the Dutch Council of Ministers to the Advisory Council on International Affairs, where he will chair the Peace and Security Committee.

The Advisory Council on International Affairs is an independent advisory body that advises the Dutch government and parliament on foreign policy issues, such as human rights, peace and security, development cooperation and European integration.

President van Baalen’s longstanding career in international politics began in 1999 as a member of the Dutch Parliament serving as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, where he was member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a member of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and a member of the Committee on Relations with the US.

Since 2015, Hans van Baalen has been President of the ALDE Party and serves as Honorary President of the Liberal International, following his Presidency from 2009 to 2014. 

The appointment will take effect on 1 April 2021 for a period of four years (2021-2025).

The Dutch Government appointed @hansvanbaalen member of independent Advisory Council on Int. Affairs to advise Government & Parliament on EU integration, security, development cooperation & human rights. Van Baalen will chair the Peace and Security Committee of the Council. 👍🏻🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/cHHb9n0PE9

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) March 20, 2021