The construction that the government has chosen to partially reopen the Netherlands by means of rapid tests at events is highly unusual, not transparent and supervision is lacking. Which states research platform Follow the Money.
A foundation has been set up for the organization, Open Nederland, which is separate from the government. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport transfers the hundreds of millions of euros that the project costs to that foundation and they can spend it at their own discretion. Earlier, an amount of 700 million was mentioned in the media, but with the money from the quick tests, which are reimbursed by VWS, it is 925 million according to Follow the Money.
The work of Open Nederland should ensure that people who have been tested will soon be able to return to a museum, zoo or theater. It is unclear how the control of the foundation is arranged. There is no supervisory board and the articles of association do not state anything about transparency and accountability of the money spent. It is not clear which assignment Open Netherlands, which is led by former top soldier Tom Middendorp, has been given, the assignment is secret.
Follow the Money spoke to a number of experts who are surprised at the lack of transparency. The construction that has been chosen “looks unlawful and very unprofessional,” says one of them. They are also surprised that a public tender was not chosen. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport did not want to respond to questions about the chosen construction to the research platform.
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