How democratic are referendums?

After the Dutch rejection of the EU's Association Agreement in a referendum held on the 6 April 2016 EU politicians voiced criticism of the referendum as a political instrument. Some commentators defended it as a meaningful procedure which, however, must be used responsibly. Others warned that referendums can be exploited by Eurosceptics and populists.

This Main Focus from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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

ECFR: Podcast, April 2016: ECFR’s World in 30 Minutes: Dutch and British referenda http://www.ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/ecfrs_world_in_30_minutes_dutch_and_british_referenda

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

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