European Council to Discuss Dutch EU-Ukraine Association Referendum Results

Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will be on the agenda on the forthcoming Brussels EC meeting.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Participants of the upcoming two-day European Council meeting in Brussels will discuss the outcome of the Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in addition to Brexit and other issues, a diplomatic source told RIA Novosti Monday.

The European Union and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement in June 2014. It was formally ratified by all EU member states but the Approval Act for the ratification of the deal, adopted by the Dutch parliament in July 2015, has not entered into force yet. In April 2016, the Dutch voters rejected the Agreement’s ratification in an advisory referendum.

"The referendum in the Netherlands on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union is expected to be discussed at the EU summit," the source said.

Ahead of the European Council meeting that is due to be held on June 28-29, Brussels later on Monday will host EU-Ukraine talks with participation of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The parties are expected to discuss visa-free regime for Ukraine with Schengen area member states and extension of EU sanctions against Russia.