Kenny set for Brexit talks with EU allies

ENDA Kenny flies to The Hague this morning for crunch Brexit talks with the Dutch and Danish prime ministers.

Both countries expect that they – like Ireland – will be badly damaged economically by Britain’s decision to quit the EU.

The meeting with Mark Rutte of The Netherlands and Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Denmark is to allow the three countries to work together ahead of a crucial European Council meeting on April 29.

It follows trips by the Taoiseach to Berlin to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Malta to meet Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. His spokesman said that Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark share ‘a range of common interests in relation to Brexit, including each having strong trading relations with the UK’.

The Taoiseach plans to highlight ‘Ireland’s specific concerns arising from Brexit in relation to our trade and economy, Northern Ireland and the peace process, and the Common Travel Area’.

Mr Kenny said: ‘This meeting is part of my strategic engagement with all our EU partners, ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

‘I know both Prime Minister Rutte and Prime Minister Rasmussen well from many years of attending European Council meetings. The Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland have common views on a wide range of EU issues. Our meeting provides an opportunity for us to have a detailed discussion on Brexit following the UK’s triggering of Article 50 and the circulation of draft EU negotiating guidelines.’

The Taoiseach claimed that the Government’s work on Brexit has already ensured that Irish concerns are reflected in the draft negotiation guidelines.

‘However, this is just the start of what will be long and complex negotiations,’ Mr Kenny warned.