A decision on releasing additional money for Ukraine should be postponed, preferably to the spring, when the current budget is discussed in the Spring Budget. “Then there may be a new cabinet,” said outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Thursday evening in a debate on support for Ukraine. Schoof clashed with several opposition parties, which, led by GroenLinks-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver, discussed a motion on additional support.
In the plenary hall of the House of Representatives on Thursday evening, Klaver called it “very right” that the Netherlands has been at the forefront of support for Ukraine. “It is of the utmost importance that the budget remains stable,” he says. With the support of the forming parties D66 and CDA, Klaver calls on the cabinet through the motion to allocate 2 billion euros in additional military support for Ukraine next year.
The motion is a continuation of a previously adopted motion, submitted by CDA MP Derk Boswijk. This motion called on the cabinet to close “unwanted gaps” in military support to Ukraine. The reason was the accelerated support that the Netherlands provided to Ukraine this year. €2 billion has already been earmarked this year for support to the country, especially through the continued supply of drones. Only, that money comes from a commitment of 3.5 billion euros that was only released for next year.
Unwanted hole
In other words, as Klaver indicated on Thursday evening, an “unwanted hole” will arise in the budget in the short term, which could endanger support to Ukraine. Co-sponsor of the motion Derk Boswijk (CDA) emphasizes the same. He is frustrated that other countries are “slackers” when it comes to supporting Ukraine, but “that does not absolve us of our own responsibility.”
This puts the outgoing cabinet directly against a majority in the House of Representatives. The government wants to wait until the Spring Memorandum to see whether an additional 2 billion euros can be made available in the current budget, the opposition wants to give Ukraine clarity now and guarantee that an additional 2 billion euros will be made available in the first quarter of 2026.
The attitude of the outgoing cabinet causes clashes during the debate. When Boswijk calls the cabinet “accountants”, Schoof even goes out of his way. “I think the term ‘accountant’ in this debate about this cabinet is completely inappropriate,” he says. According to him, the Netherlands and therefore its cabinet are leading the way. “We already do a lot. I just wanted to say that,” Schoof concludes.
With the support of GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, CDA, SGP, CU, PvdD, 50+ and Volt, there is a majority in the House of Representatives for this motion, which will be put to the vote next Thursday. The VVD, which supported Boswijk’s September motion, is not speaking out now.
Untimely
The VVD also provides no real clarity in the debate. Eric van der Burg (VVD) gives “compliments to Mr Klaver for requesting this debate”. When it comes to Ukraine, it is not a matter of opposition and coalition, he says. He immediately shifts attention to the geopolitical scene and the current peace negotiations, initiated by the United States and Russia.
Ukraine itself, as well as Europe, were on the sidelines when Trump presented his 28-point plan last week. “We actually want to ask the gentlemen from section K about this,” says Van der Burg, referring to those present on behalf of the outgoing cabinet. In section K are Ministers Ruben Brekelmans (VVD, Defense), David van Weel (VVD, Justice and Security) and Prime Minister Dick Schoof. “We know nothing about those negotiations, but I don’t think these gentlemen know anything either,” Van der Burg concludes. He seems to consciously ignore Klaver’s motion.
Schoof declares the motion ‘untimely’ at the end of the debate: The cabinet does not want to allocate 2 billion extra aid for Ukraine, at least not now. He would rather move the decision forward towards the Spring Memorandum, he says again. The toothless cabinet with only 22 seats is thus making itself quite big.
Good example
Schoof spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the debate, he says when it is his turn. Schoof assured him that the cabinet will make “unwavering efforts with all the energy and support that Ukraine deserves.” Convincing other countries to participate is an important part of this. “We set a good example, we make ourselves great as the Netherlands.” Schoof thinks “the basic flow of 3.5 billion” is enough and points to other countries.
Ukraine needs endless support, says Schoof, the Netherlands cannot provide this alone. “I know that it is not orderly to talk about budget procedures and budget requirements in such a situation,” says Schoof. But he does it anyway. He refers to the Spring Memorandum: “Then there may be a new cabinet that can look at the needs of Ukraine at that time.”
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