There is good news for The Hague, but it does not come from The Hague itself. 'It comes from Putin,' says macroeconomist Arnoud Boot. 'The defense efforts required by the European Union are increasingly involving the United Kingdom. This creates an opportunity for a necessary reset in the relationship between the UK and the EU.'
For the Netherlands, this is a golden opportunity. Economically, we are doing very well within Europe; we are almost the most prosperous country in the EU. But in terms of policy, we are not at the table. France and Germany determine top-down how their economies should run. If there is too much competition, they push it away. Germany does not want to step on France's toes, so these two have become natural partners.
Certainly, the UK can become an ally again. It is important to note that the UK does not necessarily have to rejoin the entire club. The EU is working on a defense pact that will be a 'coalition of the willing.' This means that not all EU countries need to participate, and individual countries can no longer use a permanent veto to block everything. This is how we are already moving within the EU toward involving a country that can truly add value.