‘Budget plan Dutch government already outdated’
The fast changing situation in Europe needs immediate action. The 2011 government budget plan (Miljoenennota) has already been overtaken by recent developments, said Tilburg University economists Lans Bovenberg and Sylvester Eijffinger to the camera of regional tv channel Omroep Brabant yesterday.
Dutch politicians should have a clear vision about Europe, the euro and the role of the Netherlands, according to Eijffinger and Bovenberg. “Prime minister Mark Rutte does not have a good story about the euro. It has brought us great wealth”, said Lans Bovenberg. “He needs to make it much clearer to the Dutch people how important the euro is, and the role the Netherlands is going to play in this crisis. There is much at stake.”
According to Eijffinger, the budget plan 2011 is already outdated by recent euro crisis developments. The Netherlands should play a much more active role in the euro crisis. “We lack leadership in Europe; from Dutch, French and German politicians, but also from the CEOs of large companies, for instance. Political one-liners like ‘Greece should leave the euro!’ are way too simple.”
Eijffinger argued for investing in Greece and made a comparison with three years ago. “Then we had a banking crisis in America, now a country crisis in Europe. Without support Europe can face a deep recession, with incomes and pensions falling into a downward spiral.”
In a packed Tilburg University auditorium, Lans Bovenberg, Sylvester Eijffinger, Dirk Brounen, and Robeco CEO Roderick Munsters debated about the effect of the Speech from the Throne and presentation of the new government budget yesterday.
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