New CPB Director

Laura van Geest is the new director of the Central Planning Bureau (CPB), according to RTL Nieuws. She succeeds Coen Teulings, who had been the director of the CPB since 2006. Van Geest is the current Director-General of the State Budget at the Ministry of Finance. She was previously active in various other positions at Finance. Teulings received a royal honor during his farewell ceremony today. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Oranje Nassau. The CPB is a research institute of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ). Founded in 1945, the Agency analyzes economic policy as an independent institution, either on its own initiative or at the request of government, parliament, MPs, trade unions and employers' organizations.