-
EU Commission denies reports of EU-UK security deal offered by Dutch Prime Minister

The US News reported according to Reuters, the European Commission said on Friday that media reports of a possible security agreement between the European Union and Britain to be offered by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are untrue.
The Times of London said in an article published on Friday that Rutte, during a meeting with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, would invite Britain to join a security deal with the EU, citing diplomatic sources.
"These are not true. When it comes to any proposal for a framework for cooperation on foreign, security or defence issues between the EU and the UK it would first need to be discussed and agreed among member states," Commission spokesman Peter Stano told a regular news briefing. "This was not the case."
The Financial Times said in a morning note to its subscribers that Rutte would seek London's views on any potential for deeper defence and security co-operation, which EU diplomats said was more accurate than the Times report.

Johnson's spokesman said ahead of their meeting later on Friday: "I'm not going to pre-empt what (Rutte) will say."
"We have a strong defence relationship both with the EU and individual EU member states. Obviously we have always been clear that NATO remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and we are its biggest European contributor."
Read more: UK says it will simplify confusing COVID-19 travel rules
Following Britain's departure from the EU last year, the EU's 27 governments say they have offered London security cooperation, but British and EU diplomats have told Reuters that for the time being Britain is not planning to join any EU military pacts.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also said on Thursday that Britain was welcome to join EU efforts to build a common defence policy that have gained momentum since 2017, but he said the British government had so far not shown any interest.
Read more: Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs resigns due to evacuation chaos in Afghanistan
In May, the United States, Norway and Canada signed up to a Dutch-led project to overcome delays in moving troops across Europe that involves money from the EU and NATO's expertise, but Britain has so far stayed out of any direct involvement.
Source: usnews
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!