Dutch PM reiterates need to invest in EU defense and Ukraine, dividing coalition parties

It is important that the European Commission is given the space to develop its defense plans, Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on Thursday after arriving at a special European Summit in Brussels. The coalition parties PVV, NSC, and BBB voted against a plan to invest another 3.5 billion euros in supporting Ukraine in their war against Russia. The highest Dutch military leader is also present at the summit for a meeting with other military leaders about the protection of Ukraine.

The European Commission’s chair, Ursula von der Leyen, presented a plan to invest 800 billion euros in the European Defense Department earlier this week. This would be made possibly by European loans and the stretching of the budget rules. PVV, NSC, and BBB are against this.

Two issues are being discussed during the summit in Brussels. The strengthening of Europe’s defense, which is Von der Leyen’s ReArm Europe plan, and additional help to Ukraine. The nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is also present at the summit.

The Netherlands is looking "positively and constructively" at Von der Leyen's proposals, Schoof said. He also added that the Netherlands would not use European loans if they were to come. Von der Leyen wants to raise 150 billion euros with this. Schoof emphasized that it is not about the Eurobonds, which are joint loans guaranteed by the EU countries.

The prime minister announced during a debate on Wednesday night that the Netherlands will also spend 3.5 billion euros on supporting Ukraine in the war next year.

The PVV and BBB did not vote in favor of the motion initiated by the VVD. The motion was supported by a majority, mainly due to the support of the opposition parties.

A motion not to participate in the European Commission's new defense plan, ReArm Europe, will be discussed again next week. JA21’s proposal was supported by the coalition parties PPV, NSC, and BBB, but the overall votes resulted in a tie. Joost Eerdmans, who submitted the proposal, was not present. The Tweede Kamer Chairman Martin Bosma said that Eerdmans was stuck in traffic.

Schoof thinks that he has been given “a lot of space” by the Tweede Kamer to give billions of euros in support to the government in Kyiv. The money in question still needs to be realized via the discussions for the spring memorandum, which is when the current budget is updated and next year’s prospects are discussed. "But I assume that it will be fine," said the prime minister.

The largest party in the country, the PVV, will only agree to the 3.5 billion euros aid package if billions of euros are also made available to make groceries cheaper, lower energy bills, and lower rent prices. Schoof said during the debate that these matters will also be discussed during the spring memorandum.

The highest Dutch military officer will join the upcoming meeting of army chiefs from a leading group of countries that want to protect Ukraine even after a possible ceasefire with Russia. The meeting of the “coalition of the willing” will be held in Paris next week.

France has invited Netherlands’ Chief of Defence Onno Eichelsheim, his spokesperson said on Thursday. The Defense Department would not say anything about the content of the discussions.

Reportedly, the conversations will be "exploratory and tentative.” Dutch military planners are also currently in talks with colleagues from other countries.

Led by France and the United Kingdom, a group of mostly European allies of Ukraine is working on security guarantees for the country. For example, they are considering a military force that is meant to ensure that Russia does not attack again after a ceasefire or even a peace agreement. Allies are also looking to the Netherlands for a contribution, the Cabinet said earlier.

Schoof was present at the founding meeting last Sunday in London and was also present at earlier preparatory consultations in Paris. He emphasized during these meetings that the Netherlands has not yet made any commitments.