Costa ends capitals tour in The Hague as Jetten repeats Dutch opposition to EU budget

The Netherlands has once again delivered a blunt message to Brussels on the EU's next long-term budget. During a meeting in The Hague with European Council President António Costa, Prime Minister Rob Jetten made clear that the current proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework remains unacceptable to the Dutch government. But with pressure mounting in Brussels to reach an agreement before the end of the year, a confrontation between the EU's traditional spenders and its frugal members appears increasingly unavoidable.