Electoral Council says Netherlands should review its decision on association with Ukraine

THE HAGUE, April 12. /TASS/. The government of the Netherlands should review its decision on ratification of the association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, the country’s Electoral Council said while announcing the official results of the consultative referendum, which took place April 6.

"A total of 2.5 million people, or 61% of voters, voted against the ratification," the Council said. "Voter turnout totaled 32.28%, that is exceeded the 30% barrier that should be overcome for the referendum to be recognized as valid."

"It means that the government should revise its decision regarding the law [on ratification of the agreement on association between the EU and Ukraine]," the organization said.

It added that the results of the consultative referendum are not mandatory for the authorities. In practice, it means that the government may keep the decision in force, but he country’s authorities have already announced that that is not the path they plan to choose.

"If the results of the referendum remain the same, then we will not be able to ratify the agreement on association with Ukraine," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. "This is my political viewpoint. The opponents have clearly won. The subsequent process will be proceeding step by step."

"At first, the results [of the referendum] will be discussed by the cabinet. The discussion will be followed by consultations with the parliament and our European partners. It will take time, and more likely weeks than days," Rutte said.