Dutch prime minister will give Europe speech ‘at some point’

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte will give a speech outlining the Dutch vision of Europe to the European parliament, foreign minister Frans Timmermans told BNR radio on Friday.

Timmermans told the broadcaster earlier he would like the prime minister to give a speech, as French president François Hollande had done. Rutte later confirmed he would.

‘He said while saying goodbye that ‘of course I will give a speech on Europe to the European parliament at some point’,’ Timmermans said. ‘I was pleased to hear it.’

No date has yet been set. Asked if the speech might happen when the Netherlands takes over the presidency of the European Council in 2016, Timmermans said: ‘That might be the case, but I expect it to be earlier.’

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