With a nationwide referendum on the EU association agreement with Ukraine now less than a day away, the Dutch are less than enthusiastic about the pact that deepens economic and political ties with the former Soviet republic.
“Unless there is a major shift in public opinion, which currently shows the no supporters in the majority, the referendum will spell big problems: for the Dutch government, which will have to react to the vote; for the EU, because all EU member states need to ratify the Association Agreement; and for Ukraine, because reformers desperately need this accord as their ally for change,” editor in chief of the Strategic Europe blog Judy Dempsey wrote.