Macron (and Wilders), a Chinese in the shoe of the Madrid-The Hague axis to govern the next EU

“Actually, we all have that problem. Because Spain's potential is essential for Europe.” This way the comment is better understood, and the possible diplomatic imprudence is diluted a little… Holland has crossed interests with Spain in this new technology that it intends make the European Union a (practically) self-sufficient region in energyas well as a pioneer in the sector.

Jetten receives a group of Spanish journalists at the headquarters of his Ministry, in The Hague, a few days before the Kings of Spain arrive on a state visit to the Netherlands. Felipe VI and Doña Letizia will land on April 17 in this small country, the size of Extremadura, but immensely rich compared to Spain.

In recent years, after Brexit, and despite all the differences, Mark Rutte has forged “a good friendship” with the Spanish president.

This is explained by a diplomatic source from the country of tulips. The Dutch are liberal, but one of those who are economically “very conservative”. And the Spaniard is a social democrat, but one of those who in Europe are seen as “manirrotos”. But they both saw the opportunity to “seek synergies” to exercise alternative power to the Paris-Berlin axis.

Of course, as long as the Pyrenees continue to be a barrier that is as political as it is geographical, the goal is far away. Just because France keeps its veto hidden to interconnections – “and not only gas, but also electricity,” Jetten recalls – there are two reasons and two objectives for this.

The reasons are defend your energy companies, whose nuclear sector is aging and is trying to renew itself at a rapid pace, on the one hand. and take time to achieve innovative developments that allow you to compete with those who are more advanced, on the other.

The objectives are political: maintain the hegemony as the center of the continent, facing ambitious competitors from a Europe in full crisis; and avoid that alternative to the Franco-German axis that Sánchez and Rutte have been forging in these years.

“We are a country small and northernSpain is big and is to the south; we are among those called frugaland you have a reputation for kings of spending; but among so many differences, if common interests are sought, the ability to assemble alternative majorities is enormous“, concludes the aforementioned Dutch source.

The Hydrogen Valley

And one of those fields of collaboration is the green hydrogen energy market. In the north of the country, near Groningena huge complex was built that today is called The Hydrogen Valley.

It is a port open to the North Sea, which 60 years ago was an oil tanker, and later was converted into hub for natural gas. From there the energy is supplied a third of the country and is exported to much of Europe.

But since there is a war on the continent (February 2022), in just six months, it was expanded to house a liquefied gas (LNG) reception and processing plant. Now, now electrolyzers are being builtland and sea are populated with wind turbines and develops at high speed green hydrogen distribution focus for all of northern Europe.

“We want to collaborate with Spain, so that it does it from the south“Adds Minister Jetten. “And there are our companies investing in their country, in the same way that there are Spanish companies with interests here.”

But will all this green bet continue now that Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), has won the elections?

“Wilders has already retired, because no one wants him as prime minister, and he has understood that,” he explains. Ron Fresen, political journalist who was a star on NOS public television for decades. “Now, we are in uncharted territory and there is no legal deadline for the Government to be formed or for us to go to repeated elections.”

The comfortable victory of the far right in the Netherlands last November was a surprise. Of the 150 seats in Parliament, Wilders took 37; the social democrats of Frans Timmermans they reached 25; the liberals (led by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, Rutte's heir) remained at 24; the NSC Christian Democrats took 20; the socioliberal D66 remained at nine…

“Here we have governed in lifelong coalitions,” adds Fresen. “AND It has always happened that the party with the most votes led it“It's democracy, what the people wanted.” But now the victory has been won by a party that has polarized society with xenophobic and supremacist speeches, that has chased journalists through the streets, that questions the system and even the European Union itself.

Wasn't this a modern country? Aren't advanced societies, accustomed to the pact, supposed to be vaccinated against polarization? The famous news anchor shrugs his shoulders. “We'll see what happens”.

and in that we will see The program is included former Colonial Museum, today renamed Wereld Museum (Museum of the World) and with a program to return its looted objects to the countries of origin. Or the commitment to the energy transition led by Jetten himself. “I don't know if whoever forms the government will maintain the budgets, because The PVV does not believe in the fight against change climate, nor does the Peasant-Citizen Movement (BBB, seven deputies) support these policies.”

Common interests

Holland and Spain, Sánchez and Rutte, have enormous interests in common. This alternative axis for the EU is anchored, among other shared points, in the green hydrogen industry.

Also in two personal friendships: one, that of Rob Jetten with Teresa Riberathird Spanish vice president and whom all rumors place as future Climate Commissioner in Brussels, after the 9-J elections. And another, that of Sánchez with Rutte: they understand each other well, they have both aspired to NATO Secretary General (it will be for the Dutch) and its two delegations agree on many common positions before the European Councils.

The videos of the still acting Prime Minister riding his bike to the Government Headquarters are famous. But also another, being questioned by several citizens during the negotiation of the Next Generation Funds to demand that he not give “not even a euro” to the Spanish fools. “No, no; I'll remember!”he answered with a smile.

However, the two countries reached an agreement two years ago to go hand in hand in the negotiation of new fiscal rules, after the stage of free spending in the EU. Nadia Calvino and Sigrid KaagDutch Finance Minister, presented a solution at Ecofin white paper set that ended up being the negotiation basis for the Twenty-seven.

The Netherlands suffered a drought last summer that, far from resembling the Spanish one, has caused similar effects, because it is not a country used to it and is not prepared for it. had to import gas from LNG plants in Spain in the first months after the start of the Ukrainian war. And today, despite its few hours of sunshine, it is a world leader in the development of photovoltaic energy.

All that savoir faire It is shared between the two governments. “We cannot make the mistake of not being autonomous in the EU. Spain can do a lot in solar and wind, in which you are leaders,” concludes Jetten. “And your country exercises political leadership in this field, as it did by leading the EU delegation at the last COP 28 in Dubai.”

After the departure of the United Kingdom, and with Italy removed from the heart of Europe, at least for the moment and while Giorgia Meloni seeks to be forgiven for having reached the Government with a speech neofascist, the opportunity opened for Madrid and The Hague. Since then Macron, and now Wilders was and will be a Chinese in that shoe.

Because except for Franco-German, alternative axes of power in the EU tend to be ephemeral. But the alliance between Madrid and The Hague could fit for a future expanded Union, given that they are two pro-European and opposing countries, with ideologically rival governments but skilled negotiators, who knew how to find common ground to cement it…