As Brussels chiefs count the cost of life without the UK, Jean-Claude Juncker ordered EU nations to prop-up the ailing bloc in the wake of the UK’s departure by raising their contributions to 1 per cent of GDP.
But Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said countries on the west coast of Europe, including the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark and Spain will already be hit in the pocket by Brexit.
Hitting back, Mr Hoekstra told a local radio station: “A small group of countries on the west coast of Europe is hit very hard in the economy by Brexit, which applies primarily to Ireland, but also to the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and a number of other countries.
“It cannot be the intention that those who already experience the damage of Brexit will also pay the bill.”
His comments show the cracks starting emerge in the 27-member bloc, who have put on a untied front in Brexit talks.
European budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger revealed the EU faces an £11billion shortfall due to Brexit, which forms part of an overall £18billion budget blackhole caused by other crises including migration.
Mr Juncker said an increase in EU budget contributions was equivalent to a cup of coffee per day per citizen.
But Mr Hoekstra said: “It’s an attractive comparison, but I always ask if it’s a cheap cup of coffee or an expensive one.”
During a conference in Brussels last week, Mr Juncker said: “I think Europe is worth more than one cup of coffee a day.”
The Netherlands is one of the EU countries keen on a securing a good trade deal with the UK post-Brexit due to the crucial commercial trade ties between both countries, who port face each other across the North Sea.