Hesitation: Hromadske Reports On The Dutch Vote On Ukraine

What You Need To Know:

✓ On April 6th, 2016, the Dutch people will participate in a referendum on the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU;
✓ Dutch political minority used a newly introduced referendum law in a fight against the centralized policy of Brussels and as a result, have decided to vote on Ukraine’s association agreement with the EU;
✓ “People who are in favor of it say that it’s good for Ukraine, it’s good for our borders, it gives more stability, it’s good for trade for Holland and for Ukraine; "
✓"People who are against it say it’s a first step that Ukraine will become a member of the European Union.”

On April 6th, 2016, the Dutch people will have an opportunity to go to the polling stations to participate in a referendum and vote on the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU. In the summer of 2015, the Dutch parliament gave people the right to express their opinions on different processes that take place in their country.

The Dutch are known for disagreeing with the centralized policy of Brussels and as a result, they have decided to vote on Ukraine’s association agreement with the EU. “It just so happened that Ukraine was on top of the agenda…Ukraine was an easy target…it’s not really that they’re dissatisfied with Ukraine, they just don’t like the European approach to things,” says Oleksandr Guzenko, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center in the Netherlands.

While many citizens are unaware about the referendum and its consequences, there is a strong voice and presence from both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ Campaigns. According to Alyaid Steenman, Editor at the International Department of the Public Broadcaster of the Netherlands NOS, “People who are in favor of it say that it’s good for Ukraine, it’s good for our borders, it gives more stability, it’s good for trade for Holland and for Ukraine. People who are against it say it’s a first step that Ukraine will become a member of the European Union.”

Hromadske’s Nataliya Gumenyuk traveled to Amsterdam, to speak with supporters and opponents of the referendum in March, 2016.