Dutch minister hopes for deal but prepares for hard Brexit

Reuters

Published Oct 16, 2018 08:34

Dutch minister hopes for deal but prepares for hard Brexit

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said on Tuesday that the Netherlands was hoping for a deal on Britain's orderly exit from the European Union but he added his country was also preparing for a no-deal scenario.

"We hope for a negotiated Brexit," he told reporters at an EU ministers' meeting in Luxembourg which will discuss Brexit ahead of a EU leaders' summit on Wednesday and Thursday.

"At the same time we hope for the best and we prepare for the worst. So we also prepare for a hard Brexit," Blok said.