Talks between the Netherlands and the US on introducing passport controls at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport continue to proceed ‘with difficulty’, US ambassador Pete Hoekstra has told the Telegraaf.

‘The process is slow and we are at the point where I have to ask myself “yes or no”,’ Hoekstra is quoted as saying. ‘If the answer is “no”, that’s fine, just say it. The we can put our energy elsewhere. There are enough other European countries which are interested.’

Talks on introducing passport checks by US officials at Schiphol have been ongoing since December 2016 but were first mooted in 2015.

Earlier this month, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands wrote to the Dutch government, urging progress on the pre-clearance system.

In particular Amcham urged the Dutch government to focus on the realisation of ‘this important facility’ at Schiphol ‘to prevent the US government implementing their available sources in other countries than the Netherlands’.

Without pre-clearance, Schiphol risks losing its leading position as a gateway to the US, the Telegraaf said.