The Netherlands does not agree with her issuance of Eurobonds for defence, said the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte upon his arrival at the European Council today in Brussels.

To strengthen the European defense industry, which needs public and private investment, various are being considered “innovative ideas”such as the potential of Eurobonds for defense – a debate that starts today at the Summit and will continue in the coming months.

According to European diplomatic sources, this idea is supported by France and Italy and in general the countries of the South, but not by the so-called “stingy” countries of the North, namely Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Austria.

In the European Council’s draft conclusions, European leaders call for “all options” to be considered ahead of the Commission’s report due in June.

On the issue of using surplus profits from frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine’s arsenal, the Dutch prime minister backed it, saying the European Commission’s proposal was “very promising”.

He noted that the Commission had found a “strong legal path” and the next steps should be taken.

Mark Rutte said he was not sure if there would be an agreement on this today, but he expressed confidence that it would happen soon.

On the situation in the Middle East and the Gaza Strip, the Dutch Prime Minister underlined the need for a cessation of hostilities, so that all hostages are released and all possible corridors are opened for the access of humanitarian aid. He stressed that discussions at the European Council would focus on ensuring a massive influx of humanitarian aid to Gaza and discouraging Israel from launching a ground attack on Rafah, which would be a “humanitarian disaster”.