Will the Dutch help Cameron to reform the EU?

To renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership, David Cameron must find allies. One of his targets is the Netherlands. In his January speech, Cameron applauded the Dutch government’s effort “to examine thoroughly what the EU as a whole should do and should stop doing.” The so-called subsidiarity review was recently published and spells out 54 policy areas in which The Hague feels the EU should be less involved – or not involved at all. Given that many European leaders have been sceptical about – or downright opposed to – Cameron’s push for reform, Downing Street sees the Dutch review as good news. But if Cameron believes the Netherlands will support radical changes to the EU, he is mistaken.