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Polls open in Dutch referendum on EU-Ukraine trade deal Dutch vote in referendum on EU-Ukraine trade deal
(about 7 hours later)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch voted Wednesday in a referendum on a far-reaching free trade deal meant to foster closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union that has run into opposition in the Netherlands where many see it as evidence of unwanted EU expansionism. THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a referendum again exposing the Netherlands’ conflicted relationship with the European Union, the Dutch voted Wednesday on whether the country should support a far-reaching free trade deal meant to foster closer ties between the bloc and Ukraine.
The non-binding vote in the Netherlands exposes deep divisions about this country’s place in Europe and comes less than three months before British citizens decide in their own referendum whether to leave the EU altogether. The non-binding vote in the Netherlands comes less than three months before British citizens decide in their own referendum whether to leave the EU altogether.
Dutch opponents of the EU-Ukraine association agreement argue its ultimate goal is bringing Kiev into the EU. Supporters say it is not a membership stepping stone and will boost trade and help battle corruption and improve human rights in the former Soviet republic on Europe’s restive eastern edge. The Netherlands is a founding member of the EU, a trading nation that benefits from its internal market, but paradoxically also a hotbed of Euroskepticism that rejected the bloc’s proposed constitution in a 2005 referendum.
“It’s about solidarity with a country which wants to develop itself and I believe, in (the) longer term, I would like for Ukraine to have both a stable relationship with Europe and with Russia,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said after voting. Wednesday’s referendum is the first in the Netherlands since then and was forced by a loose coalition of Euro-skeptics that managed to gather nearly 430,000 signatures in just six weeks last year. Most often, deals like this are ratified by the governments of the 28 EU members, without any referendums.
Popular anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, a fierce opponent of the EU, said he hoped the vote would give hope to other nations questioning their place in Europe.Popular anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, a fierce opponent of the EU, said he hoped the vote would give hope to other nations questioning their place in Europe.
After casting his ballot at a school on the outskirts of The Hague, Wilders said the Dutch referendum could act as an incentive to British voters to reject the European Union in June. “So it could be today that it is the start of the end of the European Union as we know it today and that would be very good,” he said. After casting his ballot at a school on the outskirts of The Hague, Wilders said the Dutch referendum could act as an incentive to British voters to reject the EU in June. “So it could be today that it is the start of the end of the European Union as we know it today and that would be very good,” he said.
Much of the deal between the EU and Ukraine already is being provisionally implemented but the Netherlands’ ratification, approved last year by both houses of Parliament, was put on ice pending the outcome of the referendum. Exactly what will happen to the agreement if the Dutch vote against it remains unclear, but politicians all say Rutte’s coalition government will have to take the result seriously. The advisory referendum is declared valid only if voter turnout is over 30 percent.
Exactly what will happen to the agreement if the Dutch vote against it remains unclear, but politicians all say Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government will have to take the result seriously. The advisory referendum is declared valid only if voter turnout is over 30 percent. Rotterdam municipality reported that by 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), four hours before the closing of polls, turnout was 15.4 percent. In Amsterdam, it was 6.5 percent by 1 p.m. (1100 GMT). The Hague municipality said turnout was 15.7 percent by 4 p.m.
The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, a trading nation that benefits from the EU’s internal market, but paradoxically it also is a hotbed of Euroskepticism that rejected the bloc’s proposed constitution in a 2005 referendum. Dutch opponents of the EU-Ukraine association agreement argue its ultimate goal is bringing Kiev into the EU and argue the bloc shouldn’t be dealing with Ukraine’s leadership because of the widespread corruption in the country. President Petro Poroshenko, a candy magnate who won elections in 2014, has been accused, following the leak of millions of records on offshore accounts, of abusing his office and of tax evasion by moving his business offshore, possibly depriving the country of millions of dollars in taxes.
In an interview earlier this year with a Dutch newspaper, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that a “No” vote “would open the door to a great continental crisis.”
The referendum, the first in the Netherlands since the country rejected the EU constitution, was forced by a loose coalition of Euro-skeptics that managed to gather nearly 430,000 signatures in just six weeks last year.
Opponents say that the EU should not be dealing with Ukraine’s leadership because of the widespread corruption in the country. President Petro Poroshenko, a candy magnate who won elections in 2014, has been accused, following the leak of millions of records on offshore accounts, of abusing his office and of tax evasion by moving his business offshore, possibly depriving the country of millions of dollars in taxes.
Poroshenko’s rise to power began after Ukrainians rose up against their government in February 2014 because of then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the association agreement.Poroshenko’s rise to power began after Ukrainians rose up against their government in February 2014 because of then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the association agreement.
But supporters of the deal say it is important for the EU to implement such agreements to boost stability at its borders. Supporters of the deal say it is not a membership stepping stone and will boost trade and help battle corruption and improve human rights in the former Soviet republic on Europe’s restive eastern edge. They also say it is important for the EU to implement such agreements to boost stability at its borders.
“It’s about solidarity with a country which wants to develop itself,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said after voting. “I would like for Ukraine to have both a stable relationship with Europe and with Russia.”
Michiel van Hulten, an activist who supports the pact, told a nationally televised debate Tuesday night, “For me, it is about Ukrainian people who want to be free and democratic and prosperous like us.”Michiel van Hulten, an activist who supports the pact, told a nationally televised debate Tuesday night, “For me, it is about Ukrainian people who want to be free and democratic and prosperous like us.”
Much of the deal between the EU and Ukraine, already ratified by the other 27 member states, is being provisionally implemented but the Netherlands’ ratification, approved last year by both houses of Parliament, was put on ice pending the outcome of the referendum.
In an interview earlier this year with a Dutch newspaper, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that a “No” vote “would open the door to a great continental crisis.”
Others have suggested that approving the deal would be a slap to Ukraine’s neighbor, Russia.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman denied that Russia had tried to influence the outcome of the referendum.
“The tendency to look for Moscow’s hand can only draw a smile of slight disappointment,” Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question during a conference call with journalists.
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Associated Press writer Lynn Berry in Moscow contributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.