The Dutch have rejected the EU association agreement with Ukraine

On 6th April 2016 a referendum was held in the Netherlands concerning the ratification of the EU association agreement with Ukraine. It was rejected by 61.1% of those who participated. The referendum was held on the initiative of the satirical and Eurosceptic weblog, GeenStijl, and was backed by radical right-wing and left-wing parties which are opposed to the EU. With voter turnout at 32.2%, the referendum was valid; however, it was not binding. Despite this fact the Dutch prime minister announced that it was not possible to proceed with the ratification of the EU association agreement with Ukraine at this time and that a decision would be made in the next few weeks regarding what further measures the government would make on this issue. The EU’s actions is dependent on the decision of the Netherlands. The result of the referendum did not resonate widely in Ukraine, where the governmental crisis has been the focus of attention of society and politicians.

The association agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) have been ratified by the remaining EU countries. The Dutch parliament has also agreed to ratify it. However, following the announcement of the results of the referendum, the process of it entering into force has been suspended. The association agreement with Ukraine is being provisionally applied: its political section since 1st November 2014 and the DCFTA since 1st January 2016.

ESO: Background information: Dutch voters reject EU-Ukraine association http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-voters-reject-eu-ukraine-association/

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