Wilders report: Dutch families would be €10,000 better off out of EU

Leaving the European Union would boost the Dutch economy, Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom party said on 6 February 2014, quoting a study drawn up by Capital Economics, a London-based consultancy.

The report 'NExit – Assessing the economic impact of the Netherlands leaving the European Union' said that quitting would lead to higher growth by bringing control of monetary policy back to the Dutch central bank and allowing individual trade deals.

But most Dutch voters oppose Wilders' proposals to scrap the euro and leave the EU.

On 7 February 2014, Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem hit back at Geert Wilders’ claim that leaving the European Union would be good for the Dutch economy. He said that it would be very unwise to leave the EU since the majority of the Dutch money comes from trade with EU countries.

Wouter Bos, the former leader of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) said during a debate on the 9 March 2014 that an in/out referendum on the euro should be put to Dutch citizens, as it would bring clarity to the issue in the country.

Euronews reported on the 30 April 2014 that the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had allegedly threatened to withdraw his country from the Eurozone in 2012.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 07.02.14: Dijsselbloem counters Wilders’ EU exit claim http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/dijsselbloem-shoots-wilders-eu-e-news-533323

DutchNews, 07.02.14: Leaving the EU would boost Dutch economy, report for PVV says http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/02/leaving_the_eu_would_boost_dut.php

Capital Economics: Report: NExit – Assessing the economic impact of the Netherlands leaving the European Union https://www.capitaleconomics.com/data/pdf/NExit.pdf

Euronews, 06.02.14: Wilders calls on Netherlands to quit EU http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/06/wilders-calls-on-netherlands-to-quit-eu/

De Volkskrant, 07.02.14: Wilders leading the Dutch to euro-free bliss (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE138001-Wilders-leading-the-Dutch-to-euro-free-bliss

ESO: Background information: The Battle Lines For The European Elections Are Drawn http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-battle-lines-for-the-european-elections-are-drawn/

ESO: Background information: EU needs fewer commissioners, Netherlands says http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-needs-fewer-commissioners-netherlands-says/

EurActiv, 12.03.14: Dutch need in/out euro referendum, says former socialist leader http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/netherlands-need-inout-referendu-news-534061

Euronews, 30.04.14: Dutch prime minister reacts to revelations he threatened to leave the eurozone http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/30/dutch-prime-minister-reacts-to-revelations-he-threatened-to-leave-the-eurozone/

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