EU Council recommends Netherlands reforms, spending and energy action

The Council of the European Union has issued a recommendation on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of the Netherlands.

• The recommendation sets 2026-2030 maximum growth rates of net expenditure for the Netherlands at 4.7% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027, 3.1% in 2028, 3.5% in 2029 and 3.7% in 2030, and says the Netherlands should reinforce defence and security spending, align wealth taxation and phase out mortgage interest deductibility gradually.
• It also urges the Netherlands to remove obstacles to housing construction, support the private rental sector, improve long-term care cost-effectiveness, reduce fossil-fuel reliance, ease electricity grid congestion, address nitrogen deposition, reduce flexible employment, and boost R&D, start-up finance, and STEM participation.