- The Dutch government agrees with parts of Mario Draghi’s proposals for EU reforms, stressing that public investments must not be self-serving.
- The Netherlands supports European policy integration but opposes new mechanisms for debt-sharing.
- Draghi’s report calls for the EU to invest €900 billion in the economy, funded by EU-level taxes and capital market integration.
Amsterdam, 9 September (FinanceFlashNews) – The Dutch government expressed conditional support for certain reform proposals for the European Union (EU), presented by former European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi. While acknowledging the importance of integrated European policy and reducing regulatory burdens, the Netherlands warned that public investments should not be treated as ends in themselves, as reported by Reuters.
A spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Economy emphasized that while there is alignment on the need for more streamlined European policies, the Dutch government remains opposed to the creation of new EU-wide debt-sharing instruments. This stance is reflected in the Dutch government’s conservative platform.
Mario Draghi presented a comprehensive 66-page report in Brussels, urging the EU to quickly invest €900 billion in the European economy. His plan suggests that new funding sources, such as EU-collected taxes, could be utilized. Additionally, the report recommends deeper integration of European capital markets and the establishment of debt-issuance mechanisms similar to those used in the Next Generation EU recovery programs, which were deployed after the COVID-19 pandemic to support the continent’s economic recovery.
Keywords: EU investments, Netherlands, Mario Draghi, capital markets, Next Generation EU
