Most Dutch opposition parties called on the government on Wednesday to respect the outcome of a non-binding referendum rejecting a treaty between the European Union and Ukraine.
Ukrainian and EU flags fly in front of the Presidential Administration
in Kiev, Ukraine, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
AMSTERDAM: Most Dutch opposition parties called on the
government on Wednesday to respect the outcome of a non-binding
referendum rejecting a treaty between the European Union and Ukraine.
In an April 6 referendum, nearly two-thirds of Dutch voters
said "no" to the EU's association treaty on closer political, military
and trade relations with Ukraine.
Although the vote was not binding, it reflected widespread
discontent with EU policy in a founding member state ahead of Britain's
June 23 vote on whether it should remain in the bloc.
The treaty has been ratified by all 27 other EU countries
and Ukraine itself. Both Dutch houses of parliament have already voted
in favour of a law supporting the accord, and it has been signed by
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government.
But Rutte has said the Netherlands will not formally ratify
the treaty - all 28 EU states must do so for all of its clauses to have
full legal force - in its current form, saying he would need months to
formulate an appropriate response.
Rutte told parliament on Wednesday night that he intends to
reach an agreement with EU partners by the summer that addresses the
concerns of the Dutch voters. "If we fail to do that we will propose not
ratifying the treaty," he said.
Elements of the treaty have already gone into effect.
Despite the Dutch "no", the European Commission will propose this month
going ahead with plans to grant visa-free travel to Ukrainians. Many
Dutch are disillusioned with a number of EU policies including those on
open borders.
A majority of the 13 opposition parties rejected the idea of
modifying the document and passing it in another form, saying that
would violate the spirit of the poll in which 4 million Dutch voters
took part.
"It is impossible to have millions of people vote and then
to ignore it," said Sybrand van Haersma Buma of the Christian Democratic
Appeal. "The CDA sees no other way forward but to repeal the law."
Buma warned the government that ignoring the outcome would
further erode the confidence of voters. He said the government is
stalling because it doesn't know "what to do...A big problem has been
created - no one knows what is going to happen."
(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
- Reuters
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