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Dutch vote on E.U.-Ukraine trade becomes forum for wider anger against Brussels Dutch vote on E.U.-Ukraine trade becomes forum for wider anger against Brussels
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — Dutch voters had their say Wednesday on a trade deal between the European Union and Ukraine in a referendum that has served as a rallying point for anger over the increasing powers of the bloc’s leadership in Brussels.PARIS — Dutch voters had their say Wednesday on a trade deal between the European Union and Ukraine in a referendum that has served as a rallying point for anger over the increasing powers of the bloc’s leadership in Brussels.
Polls suggest critics of the trade pact had the edge in the voting, set in motion under a new Dutch law that allows referendum challenges to parliamentary legislation if 300,000 signatures are gathered.Polls suggest critics of the trade pact had the edge in the voting, set in motion under a new Dutch law that allows referendum challenges to parliamentary legislation if 300,000 signatures are gathered.
The outcome cannot derail the trade plans. But it was watched as a bellwether of growing mistrust and criticism within the European Union, which has struggled to deal with a huge migrant crisis and debt meltdowns in partners such as Greece. The outcome cannot derail the trade plans. But it was watched as a bellwether of growing mistrust and criticism within the European Union, which has struggled to deal with a huge migrant crisis and debt meltdowns of members, such as Greece.
[Is Putin serious about making peace in Ukraine?][Is Putin serious about making peace in Ukraine?]
Opponents of the deal also have played on fears of growing Russian pressure on Europe and the NATO alliance. Opponents of the deal also have played on fears of growing Russian pressure on Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Critics claim Russia could indirectly benefit by greater E.U. commercial openings to Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists hold territory in the east. In 2014, Russia also annexed the Crimea Peninsula amid the tensions. Critics claim that Russia could indirectly benefit from greater E.U. commercial openings to Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists hold territory in the east. In 2014, Russia also annexed the Crimea Peninsula amid the tensions.
Supporters of the trade deal claim just the opposite — that it deals a blow to Moscow by strengthening the E.U. bonds in a former Soviet republic. Supporters of the trade deal claim just the opposite — that it deals a blow to Moscow by strengthening E.U. bonds in a former Soviet republic.
“To vote ‘no’ is to endorse the Russian effort to destabilize the European Union from within, and to encourage the continuation of Russia’s wars in the E.U.’s neighborhood,” wrote the historian Timothy Snyder, an advocate for a European-looking Ukraine. “To vote ‘no’ is to endorse the Russian effort to destabilize the European Union from within, and to encourage the continuation of Russia’s wars in the E.U.’s neighborhood,” wrote the historian Timothy Snyder, an advocate for a Europeanized Ukraine.
The trade deal — already approved by parliaments across the 28-nation European Union — essentially creates a free-trade zone with Ukraine and marks another key step in the country’s integration with the rest of Europe. The trade deal — already approved by parliaments across the 28-nation European Union — essentially creates a free-trade zone with Ukraine and marks another key step in the country’s integration with the rest of the continent.
[Kiev’s Western gaze][Kiev’s Western gaze]
The effect on the trade pact is unclear even with a possible snub in the Dutch referendum. Portions of the deal are already in place, and overturning it would require all E.U. members to agree — a highly unlikely scenario. The effect on the trade pact is unclear, even with a possible snub in the Dutch referendum. Portions of the deal are already in place, and overturning it would require all E.U. members to agree — a highly unlikely scenario.
In 2014, the pact helped set off uprisings that eventually led to Ukraine’s civil war. The deal was initially signed, but then opposed by the pro-Russian government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven from office by the unrest. In 2014, the pact helped set off uprisings that eventually led to Ukraine’s civil war. The deal was initially signed but then opposed by the pro-Russian government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven from office by the unrest.
According to Peter van Ham, a senior fellow at the Clingendael Institute, a think tank based in The Hague, voters in the “no” camp in the Netherlands come from a variety of perspectives.According to Peter van Ham, a senior fellow at the Clingendael Institute, a think tank based in The Hague, voters in the “no” camp in the Netherlands come from a variety of perspectives.
“It’s a mixed bunch,” he said. “Some vote with their guts, and some vote with their brains.”“It’s a mixed bunch,” he said. “Some vote with their guts, and some vote with their brains.”
There are those, he said, who oppose specific components in the deal, such as fracking or the potential to open doors for displaced Ukrainians in a Europe already beleaguered by the largest migrant crisis since World War II. There are those, he said, who oppose specific components in the deal, such as hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, or the potential to open doors for displaced Ukrainians on a continent already beleaguered by the largest migrant crisis since World War II.
But there are others dissatisfied with what they perceive to be faulty E.U. promises and general bureaucratic incompetence. But there are others who are dissatisfied with what they perceive to be faulty E.U. promises and bureaucratic incompetence.
“The point is more of a political nature,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to signal a lack of trust, a signal that the electorate has had enough.”“The point is more of a political nature,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to signal a lack of trust, a signal that the electorate has had enough.”
The referendum was largely engineered by the Dutch GeenPeil, whose name means “not a clue,” a jab at the European Union.The referendum was largely engineered by the Dutch GeenPeil, whose name means “not a clue,” a jab at the European Union.
Furthermore, the Netherlands faces elections next March, and a successful “no” vote in the referendum would likely bolster the rising popularity of Geert Wilders, a leading anti-immigrant firebrand in the model of France’s Marine Le Pen. Furthermore, the Netherlands holds elections next year, in March, and a successful “no” vote in the referendum would probably bolster the rising popularity of Geert Wilders, a leading anti-immigrant firebrand with similarities to France’s Marine Le Pen.
Wilders is perhaps most famous for his criticism of Islam, including calls to ban the Koran in the Netherlands.Wilders is perhaps most famous for his criticism of Islam, including calls to ban the Koran in the Netherlands.
The “yes” campaign has not been helped by revelations this week in the Panama Papers — leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm and follow-up reporting from a worldwide consortium of journalists into tax havens and shell companies. The report detailed the extent of offshore accounts held by Ukraine’s current president, Petro Poroshenko.The “yes” campaign has not been helped by revelations this week in the Panama Papers — leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm and follow-up reporting from a worldwide consortium of journalists into tax havens and shell companies. The report detailed the extent of offshore accounts held by Ukraine’s current president, Petro Poroshenko.
For many critics of the deal, the papers have justified the findings of Transparency International, which has repeatedly assigned Ukraine a high corruption rating. For many critics of the deal, the papers have justified the findings of Transparency International, which has repeatedly assigned Ukraine a high-corruption rating.