The administrative model in the Netherlands seen by a Romanian advisor: Digitalization, debureaucratization, and mayors elected through professional competition

Alina Totti, local councilor in Eindhoven, emphasizes the importance of an administrative system that listens to citizens and responds to their needs. In the Netherlands, Romanians can access services in their native language, and the administration is perceived as a service provider, not as a barrier. The Dutch model, recognized for its efficiency, focuses on digitization and debureaucratization.

Totti highlights the differences between the administrative style in the Netherlands and that in Romania, mentioning that in the Netherlands mayors are selected through a professional process, not by direct vote. Additionally, Dutch authorities have invested in supporting Eastern European workers, creating information points where Romanian is spoken. This approach helps integrate Romanians, who range from specialists to agricultural workers. Totti emphasizes that in the Netherlands there is a culture of compromise, and politics is characterized by collaboration, which protects society from extremism and ensures the representation of various social groups.