Tuesday 23 July 2019

British early approach to Brexit was like Dad's Army, says Timmermans

British early approach to Brexit was like Dad's Army, says Timmermans

Dutch EU vice president Frans Timmermans has told the BBC British ministers were ‘running around like idiots’ when they first arrived in Brussels to negotiate Brexit in 2017 and that they were shockingly unprepared. ‘We thought they are so brilliant,’ Timmermans told the Panorama programme, in an interview recorded in March. ‘That in some vault somewhere in Westminster there will be a Harry Potter-like book with all the tricks and all the things in it to do.’ However after seeing... More >

Dijsselbloem IMF job boost: Handelsblatt

Dijsselbloem IMF job boost: Handelsblatt

German paper Handelsblatt is reporting that the German government is ‘positive’ about former Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem’s nomination for the IMF top job. Dijsselbloem’s name has been put forward to replace Christine Lagarde, who is set to take over at the European central bank. Anonymous EU sources have told the paper that Dijsselbloem has a good reputation in his former role as head of the euro group and that Berlin is therefore sympathetic to his potential appointment. Dijsselbloem led... More >

SP and CU call for EU labour shake-up

SP and CU call for EU labour shake-up

The Netherlands should be able to decide how many migrant workers it allows into the country from eastern and central Europe, according to two Dutch political parties. ChristenUnie from the government coalition and the opposition Socialists want to make it possible for the Netherlands to agree deals with Poland, Romania and Bulgaria about how many and what type of worker should be allowed to come and work here. ‘Ukranians are replacing Poles. Poles, sometimes working in poor conditions, are replacing... More >

No EC president role for Timmermans

No EC president role for Timmermans

Dutch politician Frans Timmermans has failed to be nominated for president of the European Commission after being widely touted as the frontrunner. Instead of the former Dutch foreign minister, German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated by EU leaders after tense, long-running talks, Dutch media report on Wednesday. She is proposed to replace Jean-Claude Juncker, and other nominations include IMF chief Christine Lagarde to head the European Central Bank. EU leaders will nominate their choice for president... More >

Timmermans front runner to succeed Juncker

Timmermans front runner to succeed Juncker

Talks between EU leaders to appoint the next team of top officials will continue on Tuesday, with former Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans still hoping to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission. Timmermans, 58, is the ‘Spitzenkandidat’ or leading nominee for the centre-left socialist group in the European Parliament, which finished second in the recent European elections. His chief rival for the post is Germany’s Manfred Weber, who represents the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) dominated by... More >

'No progress' on EU top job talks

'No progress' on EU top job talks

European leaders meeting in Brussels have failed to reach agreement on filling several top EU jobs and will meet again at the end of the month for a new attempt. ‘We did not make any progress,’ said Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte after the meeting. ‘There are no hopeful signs.’ EU president Donald Tusk also confirmed that there is no majority for any of the three candidates to take over as chairman of the EU Commission. EU leaders also have... More >

Latest news

More Latest news >

Features

 More features >
Forget the skates. Visit the 11 cities of Friesland at any time of the year
What’s brewing? A quick look at a few of the Netherlands’ best brewpubs
DutchNews podcast – The Fact-Checking the Apocalypse Edition – Summer Special
'The work life balance has to be my favourite Dutch thing'
Foodie picks: The 15 best budget restaurants in Amsterdam
DutchNews podcast – The Ban This Sick Fun Edition – Week 29
Daily newsletter
SIGN UP