The Dutch Parliament has rejected the EU Commission’s planned military buildup plan with a narrow majority. The plan, which aimed to significantly increase the defense spending of EU member states and invest billions in military projects, had been approved by EU leaders, including the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, just a week ago.
However, unexpectedly, members of parliament from three of the four coalition parties opposed the plan. The Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders, a well-known right-wing politician in the Netherlands, vehemently spoke out against the EU Commission’s proposals.
Wilders criticized, in particular, the possibility of financing the plan through an increase in national debt and called on Prime Minister Dick Schoof to withdraw his approval in Brussels. “That’s not how it works in a democracy” the PVV leader said in The Hague, emphasizing the political significance of the rejection.
The topic of defense strategy deepens the divisions within the Dutch government, particularly between the right and liberal factions. While the liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), which also includes NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, continues to support the EU’s military buildup plan, many of its lawmakers warn of the risks of withdrawing from the plan. The VVD describes the move as “irresponsible.”
In the coming days, the government is expected to issue a final statement on the issue. However, the resistance within the parliament already shows the increasing political fragmentation in European defense policy issues.
The decision of the Dutch Parliament could have far-reaching implications for the future of EU defense strategy, which appears increasingly urgent under the impact of growing global tensions.