on Laurens Jan Brinkhorst's "Why tensions are high between the Low Countries"

Sir,
The Benelux − Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg − is the size of a large EU member state and can match countries like France, Britain and Germany. So Laurens Jan Brinkhorst is right to say that close co-operation between these Low Countries would increase their influence in an enlarged European Union.

Ratification of the Reform Treaty will settle their differences over EU institutional changes. Belgium and Luxemburg have hitherto favoured more federalism, while the Netherlands supported a more intergovernmental route. These distinctions will be irrelevant once the new treaty is fully ratified. It will then be time to combine forces in the day-to-day management of the Union.

Close Benelux cooperation would help these three countries to promote common interests such as free competition in a well-functioning common market, a strong EU free trade policy within the World Trade Organization and effective justice policies, such as counter-terrorism and mechanisms to combat trans-national organised crime. It could also help Belgium to overcome internal quarrels. The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg all have strong track records in international efforts to resolve conflicts and disagreements. Our armed forces play an important role within NATO, the EU and the UN. This, too, could be enhanced if Benelux were united.

I believe that the first step towards reviving the role of Benelux would be for our troika of ministers to formulate common initiatives and common positions within the EU. This would strengthen the position of all three Low Countries, bringing benefits not just to Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands but to the rest of the EU as well.