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 a 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.