Dutch minister hopes for deal but prepares for hard Brexit

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 an 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.

Reuters reported quoting Block that he hoped there will be an extraordinary summit of EU leaders on Brexit in November, as this would mean that a deal was close.