Over 440,000 Dutch call for referendum on Ukraine EU treaty

Series Title
Series Details 27.09.15
Publication Date 27/09/2015
Content Type

Media reported in September 2015 on claims by an anti-EU Dutch group that it had collected enough signatures to force the Dutch government to hold a non-binding referendum on the the European Union's association agreement with Ukraine. The group was formed by Geenstijl, think-tank Forum voor Democratie and the Burgercomite EU association.

Over 451,000 people allegedly signed a petition calling into question the deal that aims to strengthen political and economic collaboration between the two sides. That number exceeds the 300,000 signatures needed to trigger a referendum under a new Dutch law.

Open Europe suggested that the initiative 'should first and foremost be seen as a proxy for many Dutch citizens’ desire for a broader debate about the EU and the direction it is heading in'.

The referendum was scheduled to take place on the 6 April 2016. The Dutch government said in January 2016 that it would campaign for a vote in favour of the agreement with Ukraine. However, an opinion poll issued on the 9 January 2016 suggested majority opposition to the agreement.

Source Link http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/09/over-440000-dutch-call-for-referendum-on-ukraine-eu-treaty/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Outcome of the Trilateral Talks on the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-outcome-of-the-trilateral-talks-on-the-implementation-of-the-eu-ukraine-association-agreement-deep-and-comprehensive-free-trade-area/
EUObserver, 28.09.15: Dutch expected to vote on EU-Ukraine treaty https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/130446
EurActiv, 28.09.15: Dutch referendum to question Ukraine’s EU association http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/dutch-referendum-question-ukraines-eu-association-318007
Politico, 28.09.15: Dutch moves toward referendum on EU-Ukraine alliance http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-referendum-eu-ukraine-association-agreement/
Blog: Open Europe, 29.09.15: What to make of the Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement? http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/what-to-make-of-the-dutch-referendum-on-the-eu-ukraine-association-agreement/
Website: Geenpeil http://geenpeil.nl/
Website: Burgercomité EU http://www.burgercomite-eu.nl/
Website: Forum voor Democratie http://www.forumvoordemocratie.nl/
Dutch News.nl, 14.10.15: Dutch Ukraine referendum will go ahead, election council says http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/10/dutch-ukraine-referendum-will-go-ahead-election-council-says/
EUObserver, 14.10.15: Dutch will vote on EU-Ukraine treaty https://euobserver.com/enlargement/130673
BBC News, 14.10.15: Dutch to hold referendum on EU Ukraine deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34529698
EurActiv, 14.10.15: EU leaders expect Rutte to explain the Ukraine association referendum http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-leaders-expect-rutte-explain-ukraine-association-referendum-318509
EUObserver, 08.01.16: Dutch PM to campaign for Yes in EU-Ukraine referendum https://euobserver.com/foreign/131752
Politico, 09.01.16: Dutch voters overwhelmingly reject agreement with Ukraine: poll http://www.politico.eu/article/poll-netherlands-ratification-association-agreement-ukraine/
EUObserver, 31.01.16: Dutch PM takes back seat on Ukraine vote https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132072
Politico, 03.02.16: Finance errors hamper Dutch vote on EU-Ukraine deal http://www.politico.eu/article/finance-errors-hamper-dutch-vote-on-eu-ukraine-deal/
EUObserver, 08.02.16: [Opinion] Dutch voters could derail gay rights in Ukraine https://euobserver.com/opinion/132171
Politico, 18.02.16: Dutch strategy on Ukraine referendum leaked http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-strategy-on-ukraine-referendum-leaked/
EurActiv, 29.02.16: Farage to back ‘no’ vote in Dutch referendum on Ukraine’s EU association http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/farage-to-back-no-vote-in-dutch-referendum-on-ukraines-eu-association/
EurActiv, 09.01.16: Juncker warns Dutch voters over major consequence of Ukraine referendum http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/juncker-warns-dutch-voters-over-major-consequence-ukraine-referendum-320830
EUObserver, 19.01.16: Ukraine debunks YouTube terror threat on Dutch referendum https://euobserver.com/foreign/131908
Dutch News.nl, 26.01.16: The European Union is ignoring the Dutch referendum on Ukraine http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2016/01/83847/

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