
Netherlands: Voters celebrate after rejecting EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
Dozens of Dutch voters celebrated in Amsterdam, Wednesday, after they voted to reject the non-binding referendum on the approval of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
According to local media, the voting turnout was around 32.1 percent, more than two points over the 30 percent threshold required, with 38.2 percent voting 'For' and 61 percent voting 'Against' the Association Agreement. Despite the initial results, official results will not be announced until April 12.
The referendum was initiated by a petition organised by the GeenStijl website, which received over 450,000 signatures last September. Under Dutch law, the government has to initiate a public vote on an issue if a petition contains over 300,000 signatures. Latest polls suggest a large percentage of Dutch people oppose the agreement, despite calls by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to support the deal.

Dozens of Dutch voters celebrated in Amsterdam, Wednesday, after they voted to reject the non-binding referendum on the approval of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
According to local media, the voting turnout was around 32.1 percent, more than two points over the 30 percent threshold required, with 38.2 percent voting 'For' and 61 percent voting 'Against' the Association Agreement. Despite the initial results, official results will not be announced until April 12.
The referendum was initiated by a petition organised by the GeenStijl website, which received over 450,000 signatures last September. Under Dutch law, the government has to initiate a public vote on an issue if a petition contains over 300,000 signatures. Latest polls suggest a large percentage of Dutch people oppose the agreement, despite calls by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to support the deal.