Brexit deal is ‘encouraging’ but the details need to be looked at, Dutch PM

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has described news of a Brexit agreement between the EU and Britain as ‘very encouraging’ but that the deal still needs to be looked at in detail.

‘Now we have to study the details,’ Rutte said as he arrived for the two-day EU summit in Brussels. ‘But it is very encouraging and we are very pleased about it.’

Foreign minister Stef Blok, currently in India with the royal family, said he is relieved a deal has been reached.

‘It is good that there is now clarity for the Netherlands and for Dutch citizens and companies in Britain,’ he is quoted as saying by the Telegraaf. ‘It is now up to the European parliament and the British parliament to vote in favour.’

The deal still has to be voted on by the British lower house of parliament and that may prove difficult.

The Northern Irish DUP, which has been propping up the government, has already said it will vote against, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the new deal is ‘worse’ than that agreed by former prime minister Theresa May.

Syria

During the summit Rutte is also expected to press the EU Commission to take further steps against Turkey following last weeks move into Syria.

Dutch MPs on Wednesday came out in favour of imposing economic sanctions on Turkey but so far there is only support at a European level for a weapons embargo.