The Netherlands threatens to go wrong Coronildadden due to the absence of reforms

The Netherlands is in danger of missing out on some of the subsidies from the EU Coronaherstelfonds. The cabinet hopes to receive a few billions of euros from the European greenhouse between now and next summer, but has not carried out a large number of laws and reforms promised for this. Problems with receipts also endanger the subsidies.

Wednesday, on the annual ‘minced meat day’, the Court of Audit therefore warned that there are ‘risks for receiving the remaining amount of 2.9 billion’. In a reaction, the government also acknowledges « that there is a risk that the receipt of the estimated funds with regard to the recovery and resilience facility (HVF) will not be entirely or only later ».

From the subsidy pot of the EU coronaherstelfonds-with a size of 350 billion euros, in addition to nearly 300 billion euros in loans-5.4 billion euros is intended for the Netherlands. There must be reforms that contribute to economic growth.

The cabinet has since completely abandoned

The previous cabinet failed to realize a good number of the promised reforms and this also threatens to happen with the current cabinet. Among other things, there is uncertainty about the law that the national government should give more control over the construction of new houses, about the approach of false self -employed persons and the introduction of a compulsory insurance for self -employed persons.

The cabinet has now completely abandoned premium driving, another proposal on the original list. The Hague hope is that Brussels accepts that it replaces the promised kilometer charge, which the new cabinet put through, with a levy that will only apply to trucks. The European Commission still has to decide on this.

Receipt of 36 euros

The administration of the projects that have already been carried out also leaves something to be desired. That has a lot to do with the Dutch deployment of the coronageld. Where other countries developed major new plans, the Netherlands opted for mostly existing plans to re -pick up.

As a result, it sometimes appears to be difficult for old projects to meet the accountability required from Brussels, the Court of Audit notes. The researchers cite an example, where a lack of clear accountability for the purchase of school laptops threatened to block the entire first payment from the recovery fund with a size of 1.3 billion euros.

Only when an employee of a software company a receipt for work (worth 36 euros) appeared on which the required serial numbers were mentioned, the 1.3 billion euros was still awarded. The Court of Audit fears that such a lack of accountability in the future can lead to missing or suspending subsidies.

The intention is that the Coronaherstelfonds will expire next year. But the principle of the fund – subsidies in exchange for reforms – is seen as a possible new set -up for the gigantic European budget, which is determined by the countries once every few years.

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