A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS / A look behind the news, by ferdinando riccardi

Debate between European competences and national sovereignty gets down to the nitty gritty - differences of opinion and controversies

The Dutch position. There is now a new subject for debate and negotiation within the EU. A number of member states have expressed their opinion in favour of wider national autonomy in relation to the Community institutions - and sometimes they have even stated this in official positions. Leaving the British case aside (with the very issue of the UK staying permanently in the EU being at stake), the Dutch government has spoken openly in a note sent to its parliament (see EUROPE 10874).

Let...