Prime Minister Mark Rutte has had a ‘fantastic’ meeting with the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss in Prague. “I am really impressed,” he said after the first summit with 44 leaders from almost all of Europe. In the margins of that meeting, they discussed, among other things, closer cooperation in the North Sea, about migration and about continuing their efforts to support Ukraine.
It was the first time since the United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31, 2020 (Brexit) that a British Prime Minister was present at a meeting where the leaders of the 27 EU countries were also present. For Rutte it was the first acquaintance with Truss.
The arrival of Truss to the top of the so-called new European Political Community counts for the organizers as an important success. The new prime minister was previously critical of the initiative. The British government, which is still arguing with the European Union about the aftermath of Brexit, is apprehensive about ending up in an EU project. But that is also not the intention of the new consultation platform, Rutte also hastens to assure himself time and again.
Relationship between London and Brussels
Behind the scenes they worked hard to massage the soured relationship between London and Brussels. According to Rutte, ‘in these times of crisis and that terrible war, we should not fight each other’. He said he has an “optimistic feeling” that all parties want to get out. The talks are being held between the European Commission and the British government. “I am very happy with the signals I am getting from both Brussels and London,” said Rutte.
Truss and Rutte spoke, among other things, about energy cooperation in the North Sea, ‘about matters such as hydrogen, wind, gas and connections between Great Britain and the Netherlands, but also Germany, Belgium and France’, said the Prime Minister. Earlier in the day, Rutte had praised the leading role that the United Kingdom has taken on in the European resistance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The British have held “the necessary talks in Europe to organize ourselves,” he said.
Watch all news videos in the playlist below:
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.
#Prime #Minister #Rutte #impressed #British #colleague #Truss #fantastic #meeting