Dutch voters reject EU-Ukraine association

In a referendum held in the Netherlands on the 6 April 2016 voted against the EU’s Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union by 61% to 38%.

Turnout was low at approximately 32%, and formally the vote was non-binding. However, Dutch law meant that if over 30% of the electorate vote in this form of referendum, the government has to take into account the result of the vote. Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged this point on the 6 April 2016.

Dutch Eurosceptics argued that the vote was a vote against the EU itself. Dutch MP Geert Wilders said on the 6 April 2016 'It looks like the Dutch people said No to the European elite and No to the treaty with the Ukraine. The beginning of the end of the EU'.

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: Find all information in ESO on this topic http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=netherlands%20ukraine%20referendum%202016%20&searchOption=all

ESO: Background information: Dutch to have their say on Ukraine’s road to Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-to-have-their-say-on-ukraines-road-to-europe/

Sputnik International, 07.04.16: Ukrainian Gov't ‘Takes Note’ of Dutch Referendum, Claims It Is Advisory http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160407/1037608430/ukraine-takes-note-dutch-eu-referendum.html

Dutch News.nl, 06.04.16: Dutch reject the EU treaty with Ukraine in referendum http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/dutch-reject-the-eu-treaty-with-ukraine-in-referendum/

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/

ESO: Background information: The EU's Association Agreements with Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/signing-ceremony-of-the-association-agreements-with-georgia-the-republic-of-moldova-and-ukraine-27-june-2014/

EUObserver, 07.04.16: Dutch reject EU-Ukraine treaty in referendum https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132955

Politico, 06.04.16: Dutch reject EU-Ukraine deal http://www.politico.eu/article/low-turnout-as-dutch-reject-eu-ukraine-deal/

Deutsche Welle, 06.04.16: Dutch Euroskeptics may have won a big one in low-turnout Ukraine vote http://dw.com/p/1IR5G

BBC News, 07.04.16: Netherlands rejects EU-Ukraine partnership deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35976086

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: Dutch say no to EU-Ukraine agreement http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156929/dutch-say-no-to-eu-ukraine-agreement

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 07.04.16: Dutch Euroskeptics Win the Day http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63265

EurActiv, 07.04.16: Juncker sad about the Dutch referendum, Cameron says it won’t affect Brexit http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/juncker-sad-about-the-dutch-referendum-cameron-says-it-wont-affect-brexit/

EUObserver, 07.04.16: EU awaits Dutch response to referendum result https://euobserver.com/political/132966

EUObserver, 07.04.16: Ukraine to continue pro-EU reforms despite Dutch 'blow' https://euobserver.com/foreign/132970

Politico, 07.04.16: Dutch referendum raises concerns over EU enlargement http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-referendum-raises-concerns-over-eu-enlargement/

Dutch News.nl, 08.04.16: Top lawyer considers legal action over ‘criminal’ referendum http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/top-lawyer-considers-legal-action-over-criminal-referendum/

Dutch News.nl, 07.04.16: ‘Anger gets a voice’: What the papers say about the referendum http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/anger-gets-a-voice-what-the-papers-say-about-the-referendum/

The Guardian, 08.04.16: [Opinion]: This Dutch referendum spells trouble for Europe http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/08/dutch-referendum-europe-ukraine-eu

The Conversation, 08.04.16: The Dutch referendum on EU-Ukraine treaty doesn’t signal a step towards Nexit https://theconversation.com/the-dutch-referendum-on-eu-ukraine-treaty-doesnt-signal-a-step-towards-nexit-57460

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: What lessons can be learned from the Ukraine referendum? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156929/what-lessons-can-be-learned-from-the-ukraine-referendum

EurActiv, 11.04.16: EU to propose visa-free travel for Ukraine despite Dutch vote http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-to-propose-visa-free-travel-for-ukraine-despite-dutch-vote/

Politico, 11.04.16: Commission to propose visa-free travel for Ukraine despite Dutch ‘No’ http://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-to-propose-visa-free-travel-for-ukraine-despite-dutch-referendum-no/

Politico, 19.04.16: Netherlands sticks with EU-Ukraine deal despite referendum No vote http://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-sticks-with-eu-ukraine-deal-despite-referendum-no-vote/

Dutch News.nl, 19.04.16: Dutch government wins time to renegotiate Ukraine treaty in narrow vote http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/dutch-overnment-wins-time-to-renegotiate-ukraine-treaty-in-narrow-vote/

ESO: Background information: The Dutch have rejected the EU association agreement with Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-dutch-have-rejected-the-eu-association-agreement-with-ukraine/

EurActiv, 13.06.16: Dutch PM says he’s ‘totally against referendums’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/dutch-pm-says-hes-totally-against-referendums/

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