Bart Groothuis
{{short description|Dutch politician and cybersecurity expert}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bart Groothuis
| image = Bart Groothuis.jpg
| caption = Bart Groothuis at the European Parliament, 2022
| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|MEP}}
| parliament = European
| constituency_MP = the Netherlands
| term_start = 1 February 2020
| parliamentarygroup = Renew Europe
| party = {{flag|Netherlands}}:
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
{{flag|EU}}:
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
| birth_name = Bart Groothuis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|1|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Reutum, Netherlands
| residence = Voorburg
| children = 2
| alma_mater = Radboud University
| website = {{url|https://bartgroothuis.vvd.nl}}
}}
Bart Groothuis (born 1 January 1981) is a Dutch politician serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2020. He is a member of the Dutch conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, which are both part of the European political group Renew Europe.
He worked for politician Henk Kamp and as a cybersecurity expert at the Ministry of Defence before receiving a seat in the European Parliament as a result of Brexit in February 2020.
Education and early career
Groothuis was born on 1 January 1981 and grew up in Reutum, in Overijssel, where his parents owned a local handyman and retail business. Groothuis attended Canisius high school.{{cite web |url = https://www.parlement.com/id/vkyiifr7v8x5/b_bart_groothuis |title = Drs. B. (Bart) Groothuis |website = Parlement.com |publisher = Parlementair Documentatie Centrum |access-date = 25 February 2020 |language = Dutch }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.tubantia.nl/tubbergen/oud-inwoner-reutum-dicht-bij-zetel-in-europees-parlement~afa580c5/ |website = Tubantia |access-date = 27 February 2020 |language = Dutch |date = 22 May 2019 |title = Oud-inwoner Reutum dicht bij zetel in Europees parlement |last = Berg |first = Tom van den }}{{Cite AV media |via = YouTube |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZSChA3ASOo |language = nl |publisher = Renew Europe |title = Meet our Members - Bart Groothuis from The Netherlands |date = 4 October 2023 |access-date = 29 November 2023 }} Groothuis studied economics and history at Radboud University Nijmegen, graduating in 2006, and international relations at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael in 2006. While a student, he was a member of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy, and adjunct of the VVD.{{Cite news |url = https://www.voxweb.nl/nieuws/europese-verkiezingen-deze-alumni-staan-op-de-lijst |title = Deze oud-studenten willen niets liever dan naar Brussel |last = Maassen |first = Lara |language = Dutch |access-date = 26 February 2020 |date = 22 May 2019 |website = Vox }}
His first job, between 2007 and 2009, was as personal assistant of Henk Kamp (VVD), who was then a member of the Dutch House of Representatives.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/05/27/wie-valt-op-bij-de-nieuwkomers-a3961775 |title = Wie valt op bij de nieuwkomers? |access-date = 27 February 2020 |language = Dutch |website = NRC Handelsblad |date = 27 May 2019 |last = Kammer |first = Claudia }} Groothuis joined the Afghanistan team of the Ministry of Defence thereafter. There, he served as the interim-director of the cyber security bureau from April 2013 until June 2014, when he became the permanent director. Besides, he co-authored the VVD's election program for the 2010 general election.{{cite web |url = https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/2010_vvd_verkiezingsprogramma.pdf |access-date = 27 February 2020 |language = Dutch |page = 2 |title = Orde op zaken - Verkiezingsprogramma 2010-2014 |website = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |last1 = Graaf |first1 = Frans de |last2 = Groothuis |first2 = Bart |via = Parlement.com }}
European Parliament
During the May 2019 European Parliament election, Groothuis was placed fourth on the VVD's party list.{{cite web |url = https://www.vvd.nl/kandidaten-voor-het-europees-parlement/ |title = Kandidatenlijst Europese Verkiezingen |website = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |access-date = 25 February 2020 |language = Dutch |archive-date = 25 February 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200225170437/https://www.vvd.nl/kandidaten-voor-het-europees-parlement/ |url-status = dead }} He was also on the election program commission.{{cite web |url = https://www.vvd.nl/content/uploads/2016/11/VerkiezingsprogrammaEP2019final.pdf |title = Focus en lef: voor een sterk Nederland in een veilig Europa - Verkiezingsprogramma Europees Parlement 2019 |language = Dutch |access-date = 27 February 2020 |page = 1 |website = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |archive-date = 2 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201102105734/https://www.vvd.nl/content/uploads/2016/11/VerkiezingsprogrammaEP2019final.pdf |url-status = dead }} His party won four seats, and Groothuis himself received 21,353 preference votes, enough to meet the preference threshold.{{cite web |url = https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20190523 |website = Kiesraad |language = Dutch |access-date = 24 February 2020 |title = Europees Parlement 23 mei 2019 }} However, Liesje Schreinemacher, who was fifth on the party list, rose one spot, because she had more votes, resulting in Groothuis not being elected.{{Cite press release |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/06/04/officiele-uitslag-europees-parlementsverkiezing-2019 |website = Kiesraad |title = Officiële uitslag verkiezing Nederlandse leden Europees Parlement 2019 |access-date = 25 February 2020 |language = Dutch |date = 4 June 2016 }} When the United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020, the Netherlands received three of its seats. The Kiesraad decided to allocate these seats by treating them as {{lang|nl|restzetels}} (nl) from the last European Parliament election.{{cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/verkiezingen/europees-parlement/zetelverdeling-na-brexit |title = Factsheet: Zetelverdeling Europees Parlement na brexit |website = Kiesraad |access-date = 25 February 2020 |language = Dutch }} One of those seats went to Groothuis, who was installed on 11 February and left his job at the Defense Ministry. His term started retroactively on 1 February.{{Cite press release |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/verkiezingen/nieuws/2020/02/06/verdeling-drie-extra-zetels-europees-parlement |title = Verdeling drie extra zetels Europees Parlement |date = 6 February 2020 |language = Dutch |website = Kiesraad |access-date = 25 February 2020 }}{{cite web |url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-9-2020-02-11_EN.html#pvitem16 |title = Minutes - Tuesday, 11 February 2020 |access-date = 27 February 2020 |website = European Parliament |date = 11 February 2020 }} Within his party, Groothuis is the spokesperson for defense, technology, geopolitics, energy, industry, digitization, and cyber.{{cite web |url = https://www.vvd.nl/profielen/bart-groothuis/ |title = Bart Groothuis |website = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |language = nl |access-date = 27 March 2021 }}
When news publications including The New York Times reported in April 2020 that conclusions about Chinese disinformation had been toned down in a European report under Chinese pressure, Groothuis wrote a letter to Josep Borrell asking for an explanation. His letter was also signed by a number of other MEPs.{{Cite news |url = https://www.trouw.nl/buitenland/europa-doelwit-van-chinese-coronapropaganda~bbd66ee0/ |title = Europa doelwit van Chinese coronapropaganda |website = Trouw |access-date = 31 July 2020 |language = Dutch |date = 27 April 2020 |last = Schmidt |first = Christoph }} In addition, he said that he wanted the European Union to trace and sanction the people responsible for Chinese trolls and bots.{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/boog-de-europese-commissie-voor-chinese-druk-in-een-rapport-over-desinformatie-over-coronavirus~b21c3217/ |title = Boog de Europese Commissie voor Chinese druk in een rapport over desinformatie over coronavirus? |last = Vlaskamp |first = Marije |date = 30 April 2020 |language = Dutch |access-date = 31 July 2020 |website = De Volkskrant }} Groothuis was appointed the parliament's cybersecurity rapporteur to work on a revised NIS Directive, a set of cybersecurity regulations, called NIS2. The new directive was intended to expand the regulations to new sectors and to make it easier for countries and companies to share information about cybersecurity threats. Groothuis told that they can be reluctant to share threats because of the General Data Protection Regulation.{{Cite news |url = https://www.computable.nl/artikel/achtergrond/security/7189076/1444691/eu-wil-informatiedeling-over-cybercrime-opschroeven.html |website = Computable |language = nl |access-date = 7 August 2021 |date = 31 May 2021 |title = EU wil informatiedeling over cybercrime opschroeven |trans-title = EU wants to increase sharing of cybercrime information |last = Monterie |first = Alfred }} Besides, the NIS2 Directive includes fines for companies that do not protect themselves sufficiently against cyber attacks.{{Cite news |url = https://www.deondernemer.nl/innovatie/cybersecurity/cyberinbraken-ransomware-cybercriminaliteit-bart-groothuis~3408381 |website = De Ondernemer |access-date = 15 January 2022 |language = nl |date = 12 November 2021 |last = Boogaard |first = Frans |title = Niet beveiligd tegen cyberinbraken? Dan riskeer je een megaboete |trans-title = Not protected against cyber intrusions? Then you will risk a huge fine }} The directive was adopted by the European Parliament on 10 November 2022.{{Cite news |url = https://www.telegraaf.nl/financieel/2069132416/nieuwe-wet-verplicht-bedrijven-zich-te-beschermen-tegen-cyberaanval |website = De Telegraaf |date = 10 November 2022 |access-date = 14 December 2022 |language = nl |url-access = subscription |last1 = Bakker |first1 = Alexander |last2 = Ouwerkerk |first2 = Gabi |title = Nieuwe wet verplicht bedrijven zich te beschermen tegen cyberaanval |trans-title = New law forces companies to protect themselves against cyber attacks }}
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Groothuis called for more defense cooperation in Europe. He proposed to spend €200 billion of the European Union's (EU) COVID-19 pandemic fund on defense, and he was in favor of the establishment of a European Security Council, not connected to the EU, in the long term.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/politiek/1435752/je-moet-defensie-in-europa-veel-meer-integreren-om-de-navo-te-laten-werken-n1e2carP4QRs |website = FD |language = nl |access-date = 28 May 2022 |date = 21 April 2022 |last = Cats |first = Ria |title = 'Je moet defensie in Europa véél meer integreren om de Navo te laten werken' |trans-title = 'You have to integrate European defense much more to get a working NATO' }} In March 2022, Groothuis was one of the lead authors, along with Bill Woodcock, Eva Kaili, Steve Crocker, Marina Kaljurand, Jeff Moss, Runa Sandvik, John Levine, Moez Chakchouk and some forty other members of the Internet governance and cybersecurity community, of an open letter entitled Multistakeholder Imposition of Internet Sanctions.{{cite web |last1=Groothuis |first1=Bart |last2=Woodcock |first2=Bill |last3=Kaljurand |first3=Marina |last4=Crocker |first4=Steve |display-authors=etal |title=Multistakeholder Imposition of Internet Sanctions |url=https://www.pch.net/resources/Papers/Multistakeholder-Imposition-of-Internet-Sanctions.pdf |publisher=Packet Clearing House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310072040/https://www.pch.net/resources/Papers/Multistakeholder-Imposition-of-Internet-Sanctions.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2022 |date=10 March 2022 |quote=We believe it is the responsibility of the global Internet governance community to weigh the costs and risks of sanctions against the moral imperatives that call us to action in defense of society, and we must address this governance problem now and in the future. We believe the time is right for the formation of a new, minimal, multistakeholder mechanism, similar in scale to NSP-Sec or Outages, which after due process and consensus would publish sanctioned IP addresses and domain names in the form of public data feeds in standard forms (BGP and RPZ), to be consumed by any organization that chooses to subscribe to the principles and their outcome. |access-date=10 March 2022 |url-status=bot: unknown }} The letter outlines a set of principles governing the imposition of Internet-related sanctions, and describes the mechanism being built to operationalize the sanction mechanism. The letter was occasioned by a request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation to ICANN and RIPE, requesting that Russia's top-level domains and IP addresses be revoked.{{cite web |last1=Fedorov |first1=Mykhailo |title=Correspondence to ICANN |url=https://eump.org/media/2022/Goran-Marby.pdf |date=28 February 2022}} The letter advocates more effective sanctions, more narrowly-focused on military and propaganda targets, and avoiding collateral effects upon civilians.{{cite news |last1=Bajak |first1=Frank |title=Experts: How to impose internet sanctions on Russia |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-business-europe-8909762f92d1982acb6fca4e6dc2d183 |access-date=10 March 2022 |work=Associated Press News |date=10 March 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Timberg |first1=Craig |title=Internet experts suggest ways to selectively block Russian military and propaganda sites |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/10/internet-russia-sanctions-proposal/ |access-date=10 March 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=10 March 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Claburn |first1=Thomas |title=Ukraine invasion: We should consider internet sanctions, says ICANN ex-CEO |url=https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2022/03/10/internet_russia_sanctions/ |access-date=10 March 2022 |publisher=The Register |date=10 March 2022}}
In early 2023, Groothuis was among a number of people and organizations that were sanctioned by the Iranian government for supporting and encouraging terrorism. This was in response to European sanctions against the regime following its crackdown of the Mahsa Amini protests. Groothuis had advocated designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/01/25/iran-reageert-op-westerse-sancties-plaatst-twee-nederlandse-europarlementariers-op-sanctielijst-a4155348 |website = NRC |language = nl |access-date = 14 February 2023 |url-access = subscription |date = 25 January 2023 |last = Verkerk |first = Jorit |title = Iran reageert op westerse sancties, plaatst twee Nederlandse Europarlementariërs op sanctielijst |trans-title = Iran reacts to Western sanctioning two Dutch members of the European Parliament }}
He was re-elected in June 2024 as the VVD's second candidate, when the party secured four seats. His focus has since been on technology, cyber, defense, economic resilience, Iran, and the ASEAN countries.{{Cite web |url = https://europa.vvd.nl/onze-mensen/ |language = nl |title = Onze mensen |trans-title = Our people |website = VVD Europa |access-date = 16 November 2024 }}
= Committees and delegations =
- Delegation for relations with Iran (member since March 2020, vice-chair since July 2020)
- Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (member since March 2020)
- Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (member since September 2020){{cite web |url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf |title = MEPs filling the ranks of five new committees |page = 11 |access-date = 1 August 2020 |date = 10 July 2020 |website = European Parliament }}
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (substitute member since February 2020)
- Subcommittee on Security and Defence (substitute member since February 2020)
- Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (substitute member since February 2020){{cite web |url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197780/BART_GROOTHUIS/history/9#detailedcardmep |website = European Parliament |access-date = 31 July 2020 |title = Bart GROOTHUIS - 9th parliamentary term |date = January 1981 }}
Political positions
Groothuis has voiced the opinion that European legislation surrounding digitization is lagging behind the innovations and that the European tech sector has fallen behind those of other parts of the world. He opposes becoming technologically dependent on countries like China in a time when power is determined increasingly by technology. He has called for European investments to reverse course. Groothuis also advocates a strong European defense to deter attacks, but he has opposed a European army.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/buitenland/f6f45127-492c-4196-9a34-bbe9ba5811aa/rob-de-wijk-de-navo-ligt-op-zn-gat-europees-leger-komt-er-zeker |title = Rob de Wijk: 'De NAVO ligt op z'n gat. Europees leger komt er zeker' |trans-title = Rob de Wijk: 'NATO hit the skids. European army will surely come' |language = nl |website = NPO Radio 1 |access-date = 29 October 2021 |date = 24 August 2021 }}
Personal life
Groothuis has been living in the South Holland town Voorburg since the late 2000s.{{Cite press release |url = https://vvd-lv.nl/nieuws/voorburger-bart-groothuis-4-vvd-bij-europese-verkiezingen/ |date = 8 May 2019 |title = Voorburger Bart Groothuis #4 VVD bij Europese verkiezingen |website = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |access-date = 26 February 2020 |language = Dutch }}{{cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2020/02/06/proces-verbaal-zitting-kiesraad-6-februari-2020 |format = PDF |title = Proces-verbaal tot het vaststellen aan welke lijst of lijsten de extra zetels voor Nederland in het Europees Parlement toevallen en aan welke kandidaten deze zetels worden toegewezen |page = 8 |website = Kiesraad |date = 6 February 2020 |access-date = 25 February 2020 |language = Dutch }} He has a wife, who he met in 2004, and two daughters.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ru.nl/nieuws-agenda/vm/2019/augustus/nijmegen-opstapje-brussel/ |title = Nijmegen als opstapje naar Brussel |date = 15 August 2019 |website = Radboud University Nijmegen |access-date = 26 February 2020 |language = Dutch |last = Maassen |first = Lara |archive-date = 26 February 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200226160913/https://www.ru.nl/nieuws-agenda/vm/2019/augustus/nijmegen-opstapje-brussel/ |url-status = dead }}{{Cite interview |last = Groothuis |first = Bart |url = https://www.tubantia.nl/tubbergen/europarlementarier-bart-groothuis-denkt-in-brussel-nog-vaak-aan-reutum-dat-dorpsgevoel-is-me-dierbaar~a79d4711/ |website = Tubantia |language = nl |access-date = 27 March 2021 |interviewer = Herman Haverkate |title = Europarlementariër Bart Groothuis denkt in Brussel nog vaak aan Reutum: 'Dat dorpsgevoel is me dierbaar' |trans-title = MEP Bart Groothuis frequently thinks about Reutum from Brussels: 'That village feel is precious to me' |date = 28 February 2021 }} In his youth, Groothuis played football at the local club VV Reutum. He is a member of a local chapter of Lions Club.{{cite web |url = https://voorburg.lions.nl/nldoet-0 |publisher = Lionsclub Voorburg |access-date = 27 February 2020 |language = Dutch |title = NLdoet 2019, Lionsclub Voorburg ondersteunt 'De Boot' }}
Electoral history
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2024}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Bart Groothuis}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |
| scope="col" |Party seats
! scope="col" |Individual |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2024
| style="background-color:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (2020)}};”| | VVD | style=text-align:right | 2 | style=text-align:right | 107,714 | style=text-align:right | 4 | {{yes2|Won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2019-2024 (Netherlands) by party}}
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2024-2029 (Netherlands) by party}}
{{EP Political Group Renew}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Groothuis, Bart}}
Category:21st-century Dutch civil servants
Category:Chief security officers
Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2019–2024
Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy MEPs
Category:People from Tubbergen