The French leader’s mission was to try to make a dent in Dutch resistance to a recovery plan aimed at rescuing the European Union from deep economic damage caused by the pandemic. Not far away from where Macron and Rutte spoke stood what may be the plan’s greatest obstacle: the Dutch parliament. The Netherlands is heading for an election due in March next year, and that makes it a difficult time to extract Dutch political compromises. But the party joined the Dutch majority to vote against the idea of euro bonds in April after a group of nine countries including Ireland called for them. But it is a step forward, and the Dutch electorate may not allow their parliament to budge an inch.

Source: The Irish Times June 24, 2020 20:00 UTC