Declaration of the Netherlands and Ireland regarding bilateral consultations
The Netherlands and Ireland have an excellent bilateral relationship and work closely within the European Union.
As partners we not only work together in the European Union, but also in international fora including the United Nations. Today we also discussed our cooperation and shared agendas including EU relations with Africa, the Middle East peace process, and working together at the UN. The Netherlands is currently a member of the UN Security Council.
This week Ireland marked the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement. Today we stand united in our joint commitment that the Brexit negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU should protect the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including by ensuring that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland.
The departure of the UK from the EU will have profound effects on both our countries. We welcome the guidelines adopted by the European Council last month which restate the EU's determination to have as close as possible a partnership with the UK in the future. We hope that the UK comes to the negotiating table in Brussels with the same level of determination and that together the EU and the UK reach an outcome to the negotiations that has protecting and advancing the prosperity and security of our citizens at its centre.