Dutch gov't welcomes "good news" from Brussels after Brexit deal

THE HAGUE, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The deal between Britain and the European Union (EU) in Brussels to open the next phase of Brexit talks gives "confidence for the future", Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra said in a statement on Friday.

"The news from Brussels today shows that the Brits want to leave the European Union in a decent and orderly way," stated Zijlstra. "This gives confidence for the future. Brexit is bad news, but that the negotiations have led to this result, is good news for the Netherlands."

In a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier on Friday, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced that both parties made sufficient progress in the first phase of the Brexit talks and would recommend the European Council open the second phase.

They reached an agreement on subjects such as the divorce bill, without giving specific figures, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which will not become a hard border, and on the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and British citizens in the other 27 countries of the bloc, which will remain the same.

"It is good to see that progress has been made in the Brexit negotiations on citizens' rights, the financial aspects and the (Northern) Irish border," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated. "I told Theresa May that I am happy we can proceed to the next phase in which we can discuss the future relationship between Britain and the EU27." Enditem