On 1 June 2025, the DWARS congress agreed to the decision in principle to start a merger process with the Young Socialists in the Labour Party (JS), IF GroenLinks and the Labour Party agree to their decision in principle to merge. On 29 June, the JS also agreed to this. Since GroenLinks and the PvdA voted to merge at the 21 June congress, DWARS and the JS will also enter a merger process.
Run-up to decision in principle
The run-up to the decision in principle began well before the Summer Congress. Within DWARS and the JS there had long been the question of how we related to the increasingly close collaboration between GroenLinks and the PvdA. Sections, committees and national meetings were discussing what such a merger would mean for us as young people and youth organisations.
The Country Boards organised several moments to inform and include members in this process. These included starting the first online member consultation to our members about the merger of GroenLinks and PvdA and DWARS and the JS in May 2023. In it, much enthusiasm emerged, alongside concerns and criticisms. GroenLinks and PvdA meanwhile intensified their cooperation more and more, following also increasingly positive member consultations
The parent parties decided to take the decision in principle in the summer of 2025, so it was decided for JS and DWARS to also take that decision then. Many moments of consultation later, a plan for a possible merger was developed by the National Boards of DWARS and JS in 2024/2025, at the same time as a joint political pamphlet. Should we merge, what would it look like organisationally? And what is our political vision?
A comprehensive plan was drawn up and members were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. This open and intensive run-up allowed members to cast well-considered votes, and a large majority chose in favour of betting on merger between DWARS and the Young Socialists, should the merger of the parent parties materialise.
Path from decision in principle
Congresses autumn 2025
At both congresses in November 2025, the joint committees will present their progress and there will be room for questions and feedback from members. The Governance Structure Committee will present their final proposal at these congresses, so that the new joint Candidates Committee/Candidacy Committee can get to work on finding people for the board of the new political youth organisation. After these congresses, the other committees will continue to collect input and work further on their research and recommendations.
Congresses Spring 2026
In spring 2026, there will be a one-day interim congress of DWARS and JS together. At this congress, there will be a joint part where we will vote on the name of the new political youth organisation and other practical matters that are important at that time. Furthermore, a part of this congress will be separate for DWARS and JS so that the final affairs of both organisations can be properly settled and concluded. The exact content of this interim congress is up to the next boards, but here, in line with the Statutes, members will be informed well in advance.
Founding Congress 2026
The founding congress of the new political youth organisation will take place in summer 2026. This two-day congress will start with the vote on merging the two organisations and founding the new political youth organisation. This vote will be accompanied by the official consent of the name, logo, Statutes and Internal Regulations, among others, in line with Article 312 of Civil Code Book 2. After this vote, it will be possible to vote on proposed amendments to these regulations and/or put other regulations to a vote. At the founding congress, the new board of the new political youth organisation will also be elected.
Programme conference autumn 2026
The programme congress of the new political youth organisation will take place in autumn 2026. This will be a one-day congress in which the new programme of principles and the new political programme of the new political youth organisation will be adopted. The Programme Committee will share the draft programmes with members well in advance and, in cooperation with the Country Boards, ensure that members can submit amendments to these drafts.
Departments
Of course, this process also means a lot to the departments of both organisations. This coming autumn, the Organisational Structure Committee will engage with departments of both political youth organisations to explore what works best for departments. At the congresses in November 2025, the committee will come up with a proposal for at least the departmental boundaries. This way, departments will have enough time to seek cooperation, find new boards and prepare for the AAV in the spring. Furthermore, we encourage the departments as much as possible that they already start cooperation themselves in the coming year, supporting them as much as possible.
In conclusion
This proposal for the process towards the merger between the two organisations has been prepared by the current boards of DWARS and the JS. Since this is a big project that takes a lot of time and space for both boards and both organisations, we have tried to think out this process as well and carefully as possible. That said, the incoming boards of DWARS and the JS have room to deviate from this timeframe as they see fit. In addition, there are still many issues that both boards will have to flesh out in the coming year. . This is because we simply do not yet have the information about the possibilities in these matters, such as about the international umbrella organisation and European party which a new party and political youth organisation will join. Of course, we are working on this. The boards of DWARS and JS will ensure that members are informed of new developments in this timeframe in a timely manner.
