Dutch to hold stormy referendum on EU-Ukraine deal

On the 6 April 2016 a referendum on the EU’s treaty of association with Ukraine was held in The Netherlands.

Dutch News.nl wrote on the 5 April 2016 'The referendum on Ukraine is not about the treaty. It is about testing Dutch public opinion on the EU in general. The campaign for a referendum was driven by anti-EU campaigners who have admitted they want to put pressure on the relationship between the Netherlands and the EU and deliberately looked for an issue they could use'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Over 440,000 Dutch call for referendum on Ukraine EU treaty http://www.europeansources.info/record/over-440000-dutch-call-for-referendum-on-ukraine-eu-treaty/

ESO: Background information: Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-ukraine-european-union-association-agreement-referendum-2016/

ESO: Background Information: The trade part of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement becomes operational on 1 January 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-the-trade-part-of-the-eu-ukraine-association-agreement-becomes-operational-on-1-january-2016/

Dutch News.nl, 11.03.16: Ukraine referendum backers lose court case over polling stations http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/03/ukraine-referendum-backers-lose-court-case-over-polling-stations/

The Netherlands: News, 14.03.16: Ploumen with trade mission to Ukraine https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2016/03/14/ploumen-with-trade-mission-to-ukraine

Dutch News.nl, 12.03.16: ‘No’ vote makes gains ahead of Dutch Ukraine referendum http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/03/no-vote-makes-gains-ahead-of-dutch-ukraine-referendum/

The Netherlands: News, 21.03.16: Ploumen: Mission strengthens trade relations between the Netherlands and Ukraine https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2016/03/21/ploumen-mission-strengthens-trade-relations-between-the-netherlands-and-ukraine

EUObserver, 30.03.16: The Dutch rooting for a No in the Ukraine referendum https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132837

Politico, 01.04.16: Dutch referendum on Vladimir Putin http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-referendum-vladimir-putin-geenpeil-ukraine-accession-russia-netherlands/

Dutch News.nl, 04.04.16: Nigel Farage urges Dutch voters to say ‘no’ to Ukraine treaty http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/nigel-farage-speaks-to-ukraine-treaty-no-voters/

Dutch News.nl, 05.04.16: [Opinion]: The Ukraine referendum is cynical, manipulative and one we should boycott http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2016/04/the-ukraine-referendum-is-cynical-manipulative-and-one-we-should-boycott/

Politico, 29.03.16: Ukrainians want a Dutch Yes in EU referendum http://www.politico.eu/article/ukrainians-want-a-dutch-yes-in-eu-referendum/

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