Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte threatened to take the Netherlands out of the euro during a meeting with European Council president Herman van Rompuy in 2012, the Volkskrant reported on Wednesday.

The meeting at the prime minister’s residence, the Catshuis, took place on June 5 2012 to discuss further European integration and Van Rompuy’s plan for strict contracts between Brussels and the eurozone members on necessary economic reforms.

In an interview with the Volkskrant on Wednesday, Van Rompuy says he was ‘surprised’ at Rutte’s threat to leave the euro if the ‘transfer union’ went ahead.

Surprise

According to the Volkskrant, others who were present were also surprised because for Dutch consumption Rutte was hammering home the message that the euro was vital to the Netherlands’ economy. In doing so, he was reacting to calls from Geert Wilders’ PVV to leave the eurozone and the EU immediately.

The Catshuis meeting began with the two men taking a walk in the grounds. Once the lunch began, Rutte became agitated and when Van Rompuy reiterated his plan for more control from Brussels, Rutte answered: ‘If that happens, the Netherlands will leave the euro’, witnesses told the paper.

In his interview, Van Rompuy says he has wiped this ‘remarkable’ page from his history with the Dutch prime minister. ‘So much has happened since then that I no longer think of it,’ he told the paper.

In a reaction, Rutte denies threatening to leave the euro, but said he did use ‘very strong words’ to make it clear he would torpedo Van Rompuy’s plan with a veto if necessary.

The new arrangements whereby Brussels has a say in the eurozone member countries’ budgets has still not been agreed. Talks on the subject will resume in October.