Eurocrisis needs solving ahead of more integration: Dutch PM

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte does not see the need for any current discussion on further economic and political integration within Europe, he said ahead of a visit to the Netherlands by EU president Herman van Rompuy.

In addition, the Netherlands would not be tied to the result of any such plans, Rutte told MPs on Tuesday afternoon. ‘This is about the long term and we will judge it and debate it in parliament when it actually happens,’ Rutte said.
Nor is it the right time to talk about eurobonds, centralised financing for European banks or a European savings system, the prime minister said. ‘I am not a Europhile, but nor am I against European cooperation. But there are major problems we have to solve. You will not solve them by being a Europhile or dropping out.’
Confidence
Rutte was responding to concerns from ChristenUnie and PVV parliamentarians who wanted to know more about reports that plans are being made for greater economic integration between the eurozone countries.
On Monday, Van Rompuy told a meeting in St Petersburg the countries in the currency bloc needed to agree further integration to ensure its survival.
‘There is no way back for the euro, there is only the way ahead, for further integration’ Van Rompuy is quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. He added that EU leaders hope to have a ‘working method to achieve this objective’ by the end of this month.