Dutch referendum rejects EU-Ukraine Association Treaty; Government urged to rethink options

The Netherlands voted in a non-binding referendum on Wednesday to strike down a European Union association treaty that would remove trade barriers with Ukraine.

The initial polls show that 61.1% of voters rejected the EU treaty, while only 38% gave their support. BBC reported that the projected voter turnout is 32%, higher than the 30% threshold required for the referendum to be valid so long as it is within a 3% margin of error.

The Dutch government has previously stated that results will be taken into consideration if it reached the 30% threshold.

"If the turnout is above 30 percent with such a large margin of victory for the 'No' camp, then my sense is that ratification can't simply go ahead," Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a televised broadcast.

The Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement would establish political and economic ties between the parties, under which they would cooperate on various policies such as equal rights for workers and visa-free entry for Ukraine into EU states. The agreement also seals commitments on foreign and security policy between the EU and Ukraine.

The Guardian reported that the treaty is already provisionally in place. In order to be fully and legally implemented, it has to be ratified by 28 European Union member states. The Netherlands is the only member that has not ratified the treaty.

A person familiar with internal EU discussions revealed that officials in Brussels were hoping for a low turnout that will effectively disqualify a "No" vote. In the time being, the European Commission will wait for the Dutch government to suggest a solution moving forward.

Reuters reported that Prime Minister Rutte said they will consult with the parliament and European partners for options, which include drafting exemption clauses for the Netherlands.

The referendum was brought up by a Eurosceptic movement which presented it as a rare opportunity for people to participate in the workings of the European Union. The referendum is allowed by a Dutch law promulgated in 2015 which made it possible to force votes by gathering 300,000 signatures online. 

Tags

Ukraine, European Union, Netherlands, Dutch referendum, Dutch, European Union-Ukraine Association Treaty, EU-Ukraine Association Treaty, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Eurosceptic, EU

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