Council of State criticizes own quality in report

The Council of State called itself a "divided and introverted house" in a critical internal report on its own quality, the Volkskrant reports based on the report which it has in its possession.

A committee consisting of members of the Council of State - an important advisory body for the Dutch government - drafted the report in 2016. According to the report, the Council has problems with, among other things, large differences in involvement and commitment in state councils and the lack of a shared image.

The committee speaks of a flawed morality in the Council, blaming this on the differences between the lawyers with their legal background and the state councils with their adminstrative backgrounds.

A number of state councils, who wanted to stay anonymous, confirmed this image to the newspaper. They also said that departing vice chairman Piet Hein Donner has little regard for internal relations.

The Council of State is an advisory body to the government, and also gives advice and rulings in some lawsuits. According to the Volskrant, this report concerns the advicery department, which gives the government advice and critque on legislative proposals. Sources told the newspaper that this report "caused a great deal of turmoil". According to them, the situation has improved, but the Council still faces some problems.