A Dutch perspective: British membership is warmly supported but not much liked

As the Dutch well know, referenda are divisive events, nationally and internationally. To deal with their impact, European member states need ample political and diplomatic skills to ensure good relations in the EU. This is essential both in the run up to a referendum as well as afterwards when priorities shift to re-defining relations (e.g. in case of a British ‘leave’) or to deepening commitments (e.g. in case of a ‘remain’). This begs an important question: does the UK have these diplomatic skills? The Dutch-British relationship casts some doubts as to how the UK manages its EU relations.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Brexit: the Dutch will lose much-needed ally http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-dutch-will-lose-much-needed-ally/

Blog: LSE BrexitVote, 21.04.16: Preparations for a Brexit: views from Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexitvote/2016/04/21/preparations-for-a-brexit-views-from-denmark-italy-the-netherlands-slovenia-and-spain/

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