Dutch activist gathered 440,000 signatures, forces EU referendum for the first time in history - The referendum concerns the Association Treaty between the EU and Ukraine
nos.nl/artikel/2059967-geenpeil-haalt-440-000...
nos.nlPosted Sep 27, 2015, 8:01 PM UTC
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True.
There is however one problem. It's a non binding referendum. Given our experience with the last referendum about the EU changes to the constitution, where we voted no and our great government did it anyway, we don't expect much change. Democracy my ass and this is not going to make a difference.
Dutch person interested in Russia here.
He is right for the greater part. The politicians (except the freedom party, whose leader got laughed at in parlement when he said he has to stand up for the Dutch citizens) will ignore this single referendum, but I hope it will give people something to think about, to have an opinion about. Going further east isn't something that'll be good for the European Union. What do Moldavia, Georgia and Ukraine have to offer to us when they haven't solved their own issues? It'll be a burden to us, economically and geopolitically.
Why would it be beneficial to take away options before the deal has been struck though. The EU, including the Netherlands will want to exert power in Ukraine. That is easier if there is both a stick and a carrot, this referendum is about taking away the carrot. Seems rather foolish to me. The ablest negotiators can only achieve so much without the right tools.
But I thought it was about European values, freedom, and democracy for the people of Ukraine!
I really hope the EU isn't moving in this direction.
[deleted]
Bigger market for EU goods. It's on surface. It's also was reason why Russia was angry with that treaty, because it greatly hurting it's trade ties with Ukraine.