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THE HAGUE. – The Dutch government said yesterday that it was “unpleasantly surprised” after the oil giant Shell announced it was moving its headquarters from The Hague to the UK.
Not only does the company intend to change its tax residency, but will also drop Royal Dutch from its full name after 130 years.
“We are unpleasantly surprised by this. The cabinet deeply regrets this intention,” Economic Affairs Minister Stef Blok said in a statement on Twitter.
Shell said in a statement yesterday that it “is proud of its Anglo-Dutch heritage and will continue to be a significant employer with a major presence in the Netherlands.”
“We are in talks with Shell about the implications of this move for jobs, critical investment decisions and sustainability. Those are hugely important,” Blok said.
“Shell has assured us that the personnel consequences of this decision will be limited to the relocation of a number of executive/board positions from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom,”
UK Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng struck a different tone, writing on Twitter that he welcomed the “news Shell is proposing to relocate its Group HQ to the United Kingdom as part of their plans to accelerate the transition to clean energy.”
Shell’s plans to relocate follow a number of major blows to the company in the Netherlands. The move is being considered a win for Brexit-hit London.
In April, a Dutch court ordered that the major carbon emitter must reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030 in what was seen as a big win for climate activists. – dw.com
Online Reporter