The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets published a column by its chair, Laura van Geest, in Financieele Dagblad reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and arguing that Europe has been slow to convert crisis experience into stronger preparedness and more coordinated responses. The column points to persistent weaknesses in pandemic readiness, including the removal of plans for a structural EUR 300m intensification of healthcare, a fall in Dutch intensive care capacity to 850 beds from 1,150 at the start of the pandemic, and uncertainty around strengthening the national crisis organisation and the introduction of an information system to detect virus outbreaks. It also highlights constraints on traditional public health tools, citing declining vaccine popularity and resistance to shutting down public life, and describes how scarcity and fragmented European coordination contributed to disruption, including a "jungle" market for face masks and, later, national gas hoarding that drove prices higher after Russian gas supplies fell away. Van Geest also reviews crisis support measures, noting that Dutch pandemic support prevented hardship but was maintained too long and targeted firms rather than workers, contributing to weak productivity. At EU level, she describes recovery funding financed through EU bonds with conditions, where the design and temporary character resulted in higher interest than similarly rated sovereign bonds, and notes the Netherlands received only a first tranche at end-2024 from a 2022 plan. Against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s return in 2024 and potential tariff actions, the column calls for applying lessons to build a more resilient European economy, including accelerating the sustainability transition and considering pragmatic approaches to financing security, including the use of EU defence bonds.
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets 2025-03-14
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets chair outlines lessons for Europe from recent crises
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets Chair, Laura van Geest, critiqued Europe's slow crisis preparedness post-COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Financieele Dagblad. She highlights weaknesses in pandemic readiness, fragmented European coordination, and inefficiencies in crisis support measures. Van Geest calls for a more resilient European economy through accelerated sustainability transitions and pragmatic financing approaches, including EU defence bonds.