Benelux heads of state vowed more cooperation in a number of areas including cross-border criminality and digitisation following a summit at the Hague.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel attended the Benelux summit which took place on Wednesday, alongside the Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel and the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Bettel insisted that the countries were determined to intensify collaboration across the board and to reinforce the role of Benelux countries as "a consultation platform" inside the EU.

"The Benelux has always been much more than a community of values. Since its creation in 1944, Benelux has always been a precursor within the European Union in a number of areas," Bettel said.

"Thanks to our collaboration, the borders inside the Benelux have long disappeared and together we are working for more prosperity, security and economic growth while monitoring sustainable development on Benelux territories."

The heads of state decided to increase police cooperation in terms of cross-border criminality by improving information exchange between the three countries. They also promised increased cooperation in terms of digitisation.

Innovation and sustainable development are two of the areas where the heads of state decided to create new common ventures.

"Benelux: Precursor in terms of sustainable development and innovation", was the theme of the summit.

(Barbara Tasch, barbara.tasch@wort.lu, +352 49 93 732)