On Tuesday, the Dutch parliament narrowly rejected a proposed multibillion-euro European Union defense plan that had been endorsed by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof the previous week. The motion to oppose the plan was initiated by the right-wing populist JA21 party, also known as the Conservative Liberals.

Despite the lack of a legally binding decision, the motion casts doubt on how the government will handle the plan moving forward. It received support from three out of the four coalition parties, with the opposition Socialists also voting in favor, passing with a 73-71 vote.

The EU’s ReArm Europe plan, proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to allocate almost €800 billion ($872 billion) to enhance European defense capabilities. The funding strategy includes a €150 billion loan backed by the unused portion of the EU budget and relaxed fiscal rules that could unlock an additional €650 billion in spending.

EU leaders convened in Brussels last week to bolster defense investment after former US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine. Von der Leyen emphasized the plan’s importance for European security, stating it would mobilize close to €800 billion for a secure and resilient Europe. However, critics in the Netherlands are concerned that financing the plan could increase national debt and further divide the government.

NATO Secretary General and former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has publicly endorsed the plan, warning it would be irresponsible for the Netherlands to withdraw support. The debate is also taking place in the context of the Dutch economy’s resilience, with the country’s GDP increasing by 0.4% in Q4 2024, surpassing the EU’s overall growth rate of 0.1% for the same period. Concerns about national debt and fiscal discipline remain at the heart of the discussion amongst lawmakers.

(Edited by Saim Dušan Inayatullah)

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/dutch-lawmakers-object-to-eu-s-multibillion-defense-proposal/a-71897342?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf