The top-up contribution of 133 million euros was revealed in a government financial statement sent to parliament last week, according to the Telegraaf, and it is over and above the 1.1 billion euros worth of Dutch contribution to the European Union budget.
The Netherlands, which is a core member of the EU, was faced with the extra levy because the economy grew stronger than previously forecast. Meanwhile the Christian Democrats are demanding an explanation of the additional tax which was transferred directly to Brussels after revised income figures showed that the country owed the EU another 642 million euros.
According to World Economic Forum’s @wef ‘Global Competitiveness Index’ the #Netherlands is the 8th most competitive economy in the world.
— Eclipse Translations (@eclipse_trans) May 22, 2015
The extra contribution, that has caused controversy amongst politicians, is based on the Netherland’s VAT receipts, the country’s national income and the fluctuating state of other EU economies.
Pieter Omtzigt, opposition Christian Democrat Appeal MP said the decision to repay it immediately was "brainless".
"We know nothing about the negotiations. The government does not want to inform the Parliament. So we cannot perform the audit task."
But it doesn’t stop there — the EU top-up bills are still rising in line with the Dutch economy.
Every EU member country has to pay into the EU budget. The bills are based on the success of individual economies and calculated accordingly.
The Netherlands is the first to cough up the tax. Other countries that have to pay extra to the European Union include Britain, Bulgaria, Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia.
France and Germany are set to receive refunds. Each country has until September 1st 2015 to pay the surcharge.
