The Hague will no longer act as a brake on the EU but as a locomotive

Rutte, who often relished his casting as Europe’s Mr No, now intends to be in the vanguard of European integration.

The four coalition parties now say they are open to the “modernisation” of the EU’s fiscal rules as long as its promotes fiscal sustainability and economic convergence. It is vague, but in line with the slightly more flexible approach promised by the new German coalition government.

Rutte’s fourth administration also wants to become an advocate of deeper integration, such as ending national vetoes in foreign policy, strengthening the role of the European parliament and creating EU-wide carbon and digital taxes.

“The Netherlands used to be this last stalwart of neoliberal, free trade, light-touch government thinking,”

FT 21 December 2021

https://www.ft.com/content/6cb97ae0-7eca-4551-b494-e653d2092ae4