The Dutch government will have to offer more than the €6bn package announced last Friday if the countries of the EU are to withstand the current economic crisis, according to the European rescue plan announced in Brussels on Wednesday.

The package announced by prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende comes to 1% of Dutch national income but the EU commission says this will have to be increased.
The Brussels plan requires a total package of €200bn or 1.5% of the European economy. Because the commission has such a small budget, €170bn will have to come from EU member states, say various Dutch newspapers on Thursday.
Many of those states, including Hungary and Ireland, will be unable to contribute to the total amount because of serious economic problems or growing national debts. This will leave better-off countries like the Netherlands and Germany to foot the bill, say the papers.
The Dutch package includes help for struggling companies in paying workers if their hours have to be cut or they are temporarily laid off, the re-introduction of accelerated write-offs on investments for businesses and an end to the four-year lock-up on tax-free save-as-you-earn schemes.
The government has also pledged to pay its bills on time.
The EU rescue package is due to be ratified by member states in two weeks’ time.