The fourth Balkenende government was unable to agree on whether the Netherlands’ military involvement in ISAF after December 2010 should continue. For that reason, the Labour Party ministers and state secretaries have tendered their resignation, and the Christian Democrat and Christian Union ministers and state secretaries have indicated their readiness to give up their portfolios.

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It is not yet possible to say when a decision can be taken on a future Dutch military contribution after 2010. This will have to be decided as soon as it is known on what basis the caretaker government will continue its activities. For the time being, the decision on the Dutch mission in Uruzgan that was taken in 2007 remains in force. This means that:

• the Netherlands will give up its lead responsibility in the province of Uruzgan on 1 August; NATO or NATO allies will have to decide which country will take over that responsibility;
• the Task Force will be withdrawn from Uruzgan between August and November; the last soldier will have left by December.

In the coming weeks the Netherlands will consult with NATO and its NATO allies to pave the way for the transfer of its lead responsibility for Uruzgan.

In addition, NATO and our allies will quickly be informed of the situation, once the consequences of the government’s collapse in the Netherlands have been clarified.