Benelux leaders call for closer cooperation to drive Europe

The leaders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg want closer Benelux cooperation to help drive Europe, but a practical agreement on cross-border ambulance transfers showed how slowly even small changes can take.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten hosted Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden at a Benelux summit in Maastricht on Tuesday. The leaders spoke with university students at the city’s Sint Janskerk.

De Wever said the Benelux could become the EU’s “cockpit” again, adding: “We must set the course.” Jetten said closer cooperation was needed because the EU can work slowly. He called for a pragmatic approach and said citizens and businesses should see a benefit from the partnership.

One outcome was an agreement that Belgian ambulances will be able to take patients to emergency departments at Dutch hospitals. The report said the countries had discussed the arrangement for many years.