Prime minister welcomes eurozone deal

Friday, 09 December 2011 10:35

Prime minister Mark Rutte on Friday said he welcomed progress made on agreeing how to tackle the eurozone crisis after a day of informal talks.

While efforts to get all 27 states to agree a common policy failed, the 17 eurozone states are to work on a separate pact which other EU member states can sign up to. Britain and Hungary will not take part.

Britain's demand for a number of opt-outs in terms of financial services are unacceptable, Rutte is quoted as saying. 'That would give London an different competitive position to Amsterdam, Luxemburg, Paris and Frankfurt,' he said.

The BBC said a decision to press ahead without changing EU treaties does have benefits for the eurozone because it is likely to be less time-consuming.

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