Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Ambassador to US Defends Netherlands' Tough EU Stance

Natalie Liu

   WASHINGTON - Despite acquiescing to a compromise solution at last
   week's rancorous but ultimately successful EU summit, Dutch diplomats
   are offering no apology for their country's tough stand on financial
   assistance to the members worst hit by the global pandemic.

   Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other leaders of what became
   known as "the frugal four" argued against a more generous relief offer
   promoted by France and Germany before settling on a package comprising
   $460 billion in grants and $424 billion in loans.

   In an interview with VOA, Andre Haspels, the Netherlands' ambassador to
   the United States, maintained that the tough medicine that Dutch
   officials prescribed for the suffering EU countries was no worse than
   what his government had delivered to its own citizens.

   Structural changes sought

   "Yes, we were seen by some countries as being too strict, too tough,"
   acknowledged Haspels, who is nearing the one-year mark of his term in
   Washington. What Rutte was trying to do, he said, was to introduce
   structural changes so that a house that easily catches fire won't have
   to rely on emergency extinguishers.

   Such reforms can be tough, he acknowledged, revealing during the
   interview that he was personally affected by some of the Netherlands'
   painful reforms.

   When Haspels joined his nation's foreign ministry in 1987, he thought
   he had a clear idea of when he would retire and the pension he would
   receive. Halfway through his career, Dutch society began coming to
   grips with the fact that people are living longer while population
   growth remains low.

.