The Dutch Referendum on the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine

The rotating Dutch presidency of the European Council officially recognized independent Ukraine on behalf of the European Community in 1991, calling for closer relations. Almost a quarter of a century later these relations materialized in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU – a deal which is now subject to a referendum by the Dutch voters. The referendum’s implications are yet uncharted, legally and politically. The campaign has been hijacked by Eurosceptic populism. Polls suggest that “no” is the preferred vote. What does this tell us about the Netherlands, the EU and what does it mean for Ukraine?