Dutch disquiet brews over Greek rescue

Rising passions in the Netherlands over the 21 July 2011 Greek rescue package were predicted to come to a head in mid-August 2011 at an emergency session of parliament, which was due to question the terms of the July deal agreed by eurozone leaders in July.

Opinion polls showed the Dutch public firmly opposed to further aid for Greece or more contributions to the European Financial Stability Facility bail-out fund. And with a parliamentary vote on the Greek rescue package scheduled for September 2011, political parties who earlier backed eurozone aid measures were increasingly uncertain whether they could take the heat.

On the 16 August 2011 the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte called for stricter sanctions for eurozone countries that break budgetary rules, while speaking out against the idea of the bloc’s northern member states subsidising struggling economies in the south.

ESO: Background information: Meeting of Heads of State or Government of the Euro area, Brussels, 21 July 2011: EU leaders agree €109bn Greek bail-out http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-of-heads-of-state-or-government-of-the-euro-area-brussels-21-july-2011-eu-leaders-agree-e109bn-greek-bail-out/

Kathimerini, 12.8.11: Dutch dam against Greek bailout deal? http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_12/08/2011_402125

De Volkskrant, 4.10.11: Liberate Greece from its elites (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/article/1021351-liberate-greece-its-elites

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