Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Stef Blok
Stef Blok - Credit: Photo: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken / Wikimedia Commons
Business
Politics
Brexit
Stef Blok
ministry of foreign affairs
Mark Rutte
Theresa May
EU
UK
Tuesday, 9 April 2019 - 16:50
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Brexit delay also in Netherlands' best interest, Dutch FM says

The Dutch government is willing to give the British another postponement for the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, because it is also in the Netherlands best interest. "The Dutch interest is that there should be a regulated Brexit and not a hard Brexit. If postponement contributes to that, it is positive", Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs said, NU.nl reports.

To grant a postponement, all 27 EU member states must unanimously agree. Blok does not expect that the other EU countries will stand in the way of a delay. "Ultimately, the colleagues also understand that a hard Brexit will cause a lot of damage." But a no-deal Brexit can not be ruled out, he added. "The risk is still there. We are prepared. Not because we like it, but because it can still happen", Blok said.

This statement by Blok seems somewhat at odds to statements Prime Minister Mark Rutte made before the first postponement. Rutte repeatedly said that if the British want a delay, they must also make clear what they plan to do with it. "If the UK ask for delay, the EU will ask what do you want with it? We don't want to go round in circles for the next couple of months. What will be achieved by it?" he said to the BBC in February.

The British were originally scheduled to leave the EU on March 29th. But as British politicians had not yet reached a consensus on a withdrawal agreement, and also did not want to leave the EU with no agreement in place, they asked for a postponement until June 30th. With the European elections scheduled for the end of May, that is a complicated date and the EU therefore granted the UK delay until April 12th.

Since there is still no consensus in the UK about a withdrawal deal, the British asked for another extension. Just like last time, British Prime Minister Theresa May asked for June 30th. The EU government leaders will meet in Brussels on Wednesday, where a decision will be made on the postponement.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • AZ-Utrecht ends in an incredible 5-5 scoreline; PSV back to winning ways
  • One person found dead after major fire in business premises in Schellinkhout
  • Ajax pick up their first win since October in Heitinga’s debut
  • Philips restructuring: Massive layoffs and recall of sleep apnea devices
  • Police officer injured after being dragged more than 300 meters by car
  • Extinction Rebellion protest: 768 arrests made and 725 activists released

Top stories

  • Dutch royal family under fire for “caricature insensitivity”
  • Prime Minister Mark Rutte will speak at Holocaust commemoration
  • A12 open again after Extinction Rebellion protest, more than 500 people arrested
  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested
  • Rutte lashes out at left wing parties in election campaign interview
  • Netherlands and the US agree on export restriction of ASML chip machines

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content