Dutch prime minister proposes huge EU fund to help countries hardest hit by coronavirus
Medical nursing and technical staff of the UOC Microbiology and Virology of San Camillo - Forlanini Hospital step out with protective masks in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Simona Granati - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) - Credit: Corbis via Getty Images
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has proposed a multibillion-euro European Union fund to help the countries whose healthcare systems have been hardest hit by Covid-19.
In an interview on Dutch TV, Rutte said: 'We are, of course, in solidarity with South Europe. There's no doubt about it.'
Rutte says the Dutch have 'taken the initiative to establish a fund in the form of gifts for countries that are economically weaker to help them with the health care costs of fighting the coronavirus'.
He expects the fund to reach 10-20 billion euros if other EU nations agree to it.
However, he also stressed that the Dutch still oppose issuing European debt to help hard-hit economies.
You may also want to watch:
'The Netherlands is against that for very many reasons - it doesn't fit into the euro system,' he said. 'Another thought that we have is that's what the European emergency fund ... is for.'
The proposed fund and Rutte's comments follow harsh criticism of the Dutch from southern European nations over the country's opposition to an issuance of joint European debt, known as coronabonds or eurobonds, and comments attributed to Dutch finance minister Wopke Hoekstra about Spain's ability to fund its medical response to the virus.
Most Read
- 1 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 2 Nigel Farage reminded of claim that 'acid test of Brexit' surrounds fishing after clip resurfaces
- 3 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 4 Ed Miliband mocks Kwasi Kwarteng's 'road to Damascus conversion'
- 5 Telegraph columnist blames Angela Merkel for Brexit
- 6 Piers Morgan causes hilarity with 'Priti Patel with a brain' jibe
- 7 Brussels to launch campaign teaching younger Britons about the EU
- 8 Backlash over Tory MP receiving Covid-19 vaccine despite not being classed as vulnerable
- 9 Boris Johnson to visit Scotland this week in attempt to shore up the union
- 10 SNP MP asks Priti Patel why she has not stood down following UK border comments
Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa last week called the comments 'repugnant'.
'Hoekstra and I have said we could have communicated in a more subtle way,' Rutte said.
MORE: Coronavirus: If Europe fails, who will succeed? MORE: Coronavirus has revealed the European Union's underlying health issues
Italian premier Giuseppe Conte said earlier this week he hoped the European Union would put together a cohesive response to the plight of countries like his, whose economy has been crippled by the coronavirus outbreak.
Conte vowed to fight for a 'strong and cohesive European response' and called the crisis 'an appointment with history. Europe must say if it's ready for this appointment' to effectively deal with social and economic shock wreaked by the pandemic.
Speaking in Paris, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the proposal as a step in the right direction.
'This is I think a very positive signal,' Le Maire said. 'It's good news that everybody now in Europe is aware of the necessity of showing a strong and clear solidarity among member states.'
He added: 'There's one single political question: shall we stand together or not?' he said. 'Shall we stand together as a unified continent to face the long term and dramatic consequences of the economic crisis or shall we give to the world
the sad image of a continent divided between the north and the south?'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
