"'Everyone will now see that cuts are necessary,'" ...the beatings will continue until morale improves!

By Kevin | November 16, 2011 10:04 AM

The Prime Minister should be careful what he wishes for. Such talk could come back to haunt him.

By Roger | November 16, 2011 12:17 PM

And how exactly is the EU supposed to go about ejecting countries out of the EuroZone? Restore national currencies?

You can't simply reprint national currencies and expect the crisis to go away. All accounts must be reconverted from the Euro to these currencies. National Central Banks must be re-established. Exchange rates and interest rates must also be set.

By the time all this is achieved, it'll be too late to save the European economy, let alone the EuroZone. Not to mention the effect this will all have on the "Internationally open" Dutch economy and the already tarnished image of the Netherlands.

By Bob | November 16, 2011 4:26 PM

The Prime Minister might want to recant his words: "Saying countries should be 'pushed out' of euro" Eventually, Karma will bite you in the ass for such thinking. He’s obviously not focusing on the repercussion such a move would have and the substantial impact on the slowing Dutch economy.

By Kati | November 16, 2011 5:01 PM

Mr Rutte paying lipservice to Mr Cameron - not real news. Given a choice between Mr Cameron and Ms Merkel, we all know where Mr Rutte's allegience would go in an instant.

Merkel and Sarkozy have both told Cameron 'No pay, no play and no say', despite what the British press tell their readers, the UK isn't even mentioned in EU press - they're just a bystander with zero influence *not Europes fault Britain (aka Thatcher) destroyed their industry so they only have banking and callcentres left (and we all know what happened to the callcentres!). In fairness, nobody else in Europe mentions the Netherlands either: perhaps Cameron and Rutte are soulmates, because the cool-kids never invite them to parties?

By osita | November 16, 2011 6:41 PM

Although I am a Dutch citizen who is not Dutch, Rutte does not represent me. Will he tell Denmark to leave? Sweden? finland? No way. These utterances are pure populist claims aimed at, well you know, those indolent, Southern Europeans who are responsible for the crisis that he and others, e.g. Zalm, created..

By Husserl | November 16, 2011 6:56 PM

Just like the Schengen agreement, so also the Euro idea was ludicrous!
You may compare milk with meat, but you do NOT carry them in ONE container!

By theo orvalr | November 16, 2011 7:50 PM

I don't believe the Euro will last. When I traveled to the Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany this last May and June, all I heard was how multiculturalism was dead. I experienced the return of border checks to and from the Netherlands and Germany. I was waved down at a dutch border near Arnhem and Germany and had my passport checked. No problem, but it showed to me that the borders were closing. Italy is in dire straights and Spain is even worse with the highest unemployment rate in all of Europe. Germany and the Dutch can't continue to bail out corrupt gov'ts. Something has to give...bring back thr Guilder.

By Robert | November 16, 2011 10:06 PM

Typical shallow time-stalling statement that will not solve NL problems. So long the guv, banks & corporations continue the same line of business policies, there will be no real solution, or a way out of the out-of-control capitalism greed.

Reform does not necessarily mean progression, only change, and sometimes for the worst.

'Cooperation' not Corporation! Caring & sharing only will win trust, so when are we going to start?

By The visitor | November 16, 2011 10:29 PM

All bluster and pandering to Wilder's base. There is no EU mechanism for shoving countries out.

By Puck | November 17, 2011 4:19 AM

Just wondering will the dutch goverment still ban tourists from there lovely coffee shops hardly now! there feeling it already and this will never be inforced..... now

By alan | November 17, 2011 1:13 PM