UPDATE - EU, Netherlands share 'important priorities,' says bloc's commission head after meeting with Dutch premier

ADDS REMARKS BY DUTCH PREMIER

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said the EU and the Netherlands share "important priorities" that the bloc looks forward to cooperating on.

Von der Leyen's remarks came after she hosted a meeting with new Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in Brussels.

"The EU and the Netherlands share important priorities," including support to Ukraine, defense, competitiveness, migration, and the future of agriculture, she said on X.

"Looking forward to our cooperation," she added.

Schoof, for his part, described his talks with von der Leyen, as well as with European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, as "positive and useful."

Noting on X that it is "important" for him to get to know the leaders of the key European institutions, he said: "We will be in regular contact in the coming period."

"I informed them all that the Netherlands will continue to be a dependable partner and play a constructive role in Europe," he said, and added: "We will keep working together on crucial dossiers such as support for Ukraine, grip on migration, perspective for agriculture and strengthening EU competitiveness and the European defence industry."

Over seven months after the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, Schoof, the former head of the Dutch secret service, was sworn in as the prime minister last week.

He succeeds outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is set to become the next NATO secretary-general.

Heading a right-wing coalition Cabinet, Schoof already promised to "determinedly" implement the coalition's plans for the "strictest admission policy for asylum seekers and the most comprehensive package to control migration."