THE HAGUE - Prime Minister Dick Schoof is having an emergency meeting with the leaders of the coalition parties on Thursday morning about a motion parliament adopted against the plan to rearm the European Union, sources close to the government various Dutch media. The parliamentary motion puts the Dutch Cabinet in a difficult position because Schoof already publicly pledged support for the plan of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

On Tuesday, the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, adopted a motion by JA21 parliamentarian Joost Eerdmans calling on the Cabinet not to agree to the 800 billion euro plan for the rearmament of Europe as war on NATO territory seems increasingly imminent. The parliamentarians’ main objection was that the rearmament plan would be partly funded by taking on joint debts and relaxing the budget rules. Three of the four coalition parties - PVV, NSC, and BBB - supported the motion. 

NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt said he is “fundamentally” opposed to eurobonds and relaxing the European budget rules. Europbonds are joint loans for which EU countries stand as guarantee. PVV leader Geert Wilders said that Schoof must retract his statements in Europe. 

The motion significantly limits Schoof and his Cabinet Members’ room to manoeuvre in the European Union. The Netherlands could also lose credibility because Schoof already said that the Netherlands would support the plan. Turning back now could result in the Netherlands standing alone in Europe, supporters of the rearmament plan fear. All the other Member States - including Hungary, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban known to support Russia - agreed to the plan. 

On Thursday, Schoof will work with the coalition leaders in an attempt to find an interpretation of the motion that will allow the Cabinet to continue working with its EU colleagues. According to NOS’s sources, the way out may be for the Dutch government to push harder against joint loans and relaxing the budget rules. The PVV, NSC, and BBB support increasing defense spending but believe the Member States must do that from their own budgets. It’s going to be a “tough discussion,” sources told RTL Nieuws. 

Whatever the outcome of the consultation, the Dutch Cabinet cannot block the EU defense plan. Enough other countries agreed to it. So, this is mainly about the Dutch government saving face. 

The EU leaders will discuss the 800 billion euro rearmament plan in more detail at a summit next week.