The two parties currently in talks on forming a new coalition government for the Netherlands have reached agreement on a number of major issues that will shape the contours of the next cabinet.

Rob Jetten, leader of the liberal democratic party D66, and Christian Democrat leader Henri Bontenbal have been in discussions for just over two weeks under the leadership of Sybrand Buma, who is due to make a statement on the progress later on Tuesday.

“I think we will be able to surprise you with some of the choices,” Jetten told reporters ahead of the final meeting with Buma. The agreement, he said, forms “a good basis for the continuation of the cabinet formation process”.

The main themes outlined by Jetten and Bontenbal before the talks began were housing, the nitrogen crisis, migration, the economy and foreign policy.

The interim report will now form the basis of talks with other parties, with the aim of putting together a stable government of four parties.

At least two more parties will be needed to have a majority in the lower house of parliament and the right-wing VVD and GroenLinks-PvdA alliance are the most likely candidates. But the VVD has so far refused to work together with the left-wing parties.

More to follow