The European Commission should confine itself to five key tasks over the next five years, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said in an interview with regional newspapers.

The European Union should ‘return to the basics’, Rutte, from the right-wing Liberal VVD party, said.

Europe should focus on ensuring a strong internal market, cutting red tape, boosting free trade, a single energy market and combating labour market abuses, Rutte said.

‘People are worried about their jobs and jobs for their children,’ he said. ‘But Europe is interfering in pensions and coming up with quotas for women.’

Dinner

Rutte plans to outline his list of priorities to other EU leaders at a special dinner next week, two days after the results of the elections are published.

The Netherlands will elect 26 new European parliamentarians on Thursday but most of the EU will vote on Sunday.

‘I absolutely want to prevent us continuing on as if nothing had happened after this election,’ Rutte said.

Eurosceptic groups are forecast to make large advances in the polls.

Opposition

Opposition MPs have demanded Rutte explain why he has gone public now with a list of key tasks for the EU.

‘I want to hear from the cabinet before 16.00 today if what the prime minister said is real cabinet policy,’ CDA parliamentarian Pieter Omtzigt is quoted as saying by news agency ANP. ‘And that needs to be signed by foreign minister (Frans) Timmermans as well.’

‘Rutte has declined to outline his vision for Europe for years and now he comes out with a list a day before the EU elections,’ said D66 leader Alexander Pechtold.

Check out the DutchNews.nl special EU election section for manifesto summaries, voting aids and more.