The Netherlands and the EU

Latest business news about The Netherlands and the European Union.

East Europe protests Dutch anti-immigrant website — 14 February 2012, 13:17 CET

Ten eastern European countries have protested to the Dutch goverment about an anti-immigrant website by a rightwing party, calling it discriminatory and urging The Hague Tuesday to reject a "deplorable initiative".

Ambassadors protest Dutch rightwing website — 14 February 2012, 12:37 CET

Ten eastern European countries have sent a letter of protest against an anti-immigrant website by a Dutch rightwing party, Tuesday calling on The Hague to distance itself from the initiative.

Ambassadors to complain over Dutch right-wing website — 13 February 2012, 19:05 CET

Ambassadors from 10 eastern European states are to send a protest letter to the Dutch parliament over the website of a far-right party, a Polish embassy spokesman said on Monday.

Merkel to meet Danish, Dutch, Estonian leaders on euro — 10 February 2012, 15:16 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks with her Danish, Dutch and Estonian counterparts on Monday to discuss the euro crisis ahead of a European Union summit in March, her spokesman said.

EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Romanian and Bulgarian hopes of rapidly joining the Schengen visa-free travel zone were dealt a new blow Wednesday as an EU report urged them to take more action against corruption and organised crime.

Greek euro exit less damaging now: Dutch PM — 07 February 2012, 19:00 CET

A Greek exit from the eurozone now would be less risky than if it had happened in mid-2010 when its debt crisis first broke, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday as bailout talks in Athens went to the wire.

Dutch plant 'for 1 euro' if jobs kept: Mitsubishi — 07 February 2012, 12:23 CET

Japan's Mitsubishi Motors is willing to sell its Netherlands factory "for one euro" if the buyer is prepared to keep employing the 1,500 workers there, the company president has said.

Dutch central bank against financial transaction tax — 06 February 2012, 19:16 CET

The Dutch central bank said Monday it opposed plans for a financial transaction tax in the EU as it will cost banks, pension funds and insurers in the Netherlands billions of euros and discourage growth.

Romanian leader slams Dutch 'abuse' over Schengen — 02 February 2012, 12:28 CET

Romania's President Traian Basescu on Thursday accused the Netherlands of abuse over its blocking of Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the visa-free Schengen area.

Novelist Umberto Eco to be awarded Dutch city honour — 23 January 2012, 22:51 CET

Italian master novelist Umberto Eco has been awarded the second Nijmegen Medal of Peace for his role in the debate on the past and future of Europe, the Dutch city announced Monday.

Fiscal discipline must be coupled with job growth: PMs — 18 January 2012, 17:37 CET

Strict budgetary discipline will only let the European Union emerge from financial crisis if it is accompanied by job-creation measures, Belgian and Dutch leaders said Wednesday.

Air France-KLM announces EUR 1bn cost-cutting plan — 12 January 2012, 22:12 CET

Air France-KLM said Thursday it would implement a three-year cost-cutting plan, including wage freezes and investment reductions, aimed at saving at least one billion euros ($1.3 billion) and reducing its debt.

Euro police busts synthetics drug ring — 12 January 2012, 17:52 CET

Policing agency Europol said Thursday it has busted a major synthetic drugs-making network and arrested nine suspects in four countries, while recovering drugs, equipment, guns and explosives.

Euro police arrest 112 in online child sex-abuse bust — 16 December 2011, 15:54 CET

Police in 22 European countries swooped on 112 suspects for allegedly sharing "the most extreme form" of online videos of children being sexually abused and raped, policing agency Europol said on Friday.

First Icesave payouts made to British, Dutch savers — 07 December 2011, 18:22 CET

The winding-up board of failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki has begun reimbursing savers who lost money in the collapse of its online branch Icesave, primarily British and Dutch savers.

Netherlands recalls its ambassador in Tehran — 30 November 2011, 22:38 CET

The Dutch foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was recalling its ambassador to Iran for "consultations", a day after Islamic militants ransacked the British embassy.

Philippines' former NPA leader Sison loses damages claim — 23 November 2011, 14:24 CET

The European Court of Justice rejected a claim for damages Wednesday filed by exiled onetime leader of the Maoist NPA guerrilla movement in the Philippines, Jose Maria Sison.

Ahold moots EUR 350m saving, plan to boost online sales — 21 November 2011, 12:33 CET

Dutch retail giant Ahold announced on Monday a 350-million-euro cost savings plan as part of a six-pillar strategy including a boost for online sales and a dividend increase.

Euro 'more important than Greece:' Dutch PM — 04 November 2011, 17:53 CET

Dutch Premier Mark Rutte said Friday the euro was "more important" than Greece remaining in the eurozone, but stressed Athens should retain the single currency and avoid default.

European rabbis rally against kosher slaughter ban — 01 November 2011, 22:57 CET

European rabbis at a landmark meeting in Poland on Tuesday urged Dutch senators to reject a de facto ban on kosher slaughter passed by the lower house of parliament.

Iceland court ruling paves way to end of Icesave dispute — 28 October 2011, 23:10 CET

The Iceland Supreme Court ruled Friday in favour of emergency laws introduced during the 2008 financial crisis, removing the last uncertainty about whether the country can settle its Icesave debt to Britain and the Netherlands.

Merkel backs idea of 'eurozone stability' commissioner — 07 October 2011, 16:27 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday threw her weight behind a Dutch proposal to appoint a separate European commissioner purely to ensure that eurozone nations abide by the bloc's budget rules.

Europe needs 'ambitious growth agenda': prime ministers — 06 October 2011, 23:17 CET

Three European leaders Thursday called for an ambitious growth agenda to get the continent back on track, including tight fiscal discipline by member states as the euro debt crisis deepens.

Dutch approve euro rescue fund boost — 06 October 2011, 21:42 CET

Dutch MPs on Thursday approved new powers for the 440-billion-euro single currency rescue fund, making it the 15th eurozone country to do so.

Germany urges unified answer on Syria — 04 October 2011, 17:32 CET

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle Tuesday urged UN Security Council members to find a "unified answer" to the crackdown in Syria, warning inaction would weaken the UN's authority.