DutchNews, September 27,
2015
A Dutch citizens’ initiative to
force a referendum on a far-reaching treaty between Brussels and Ukraine had
gathered 446,000 signatures by early Sunday evening.
The campaign to hold a
referendum was launched by shock blog Geenstijl, think-tank Forum voor Democratie and the Burgercomite EU association earlier this month.
In 2014, the
Dutch approved legislation to allow ‘advisory referendums’ on controversial
topics, if supporters can gather 300,000 signatures. The Dutch parliament has
already voted in favour of the treaty.
The aim is of the treaty is to foster
political relationships and kickstart economic integration and supporters say
it shifts Ukraine away from Russia and more towards the west.
Opponents say the
treaty will cost Dutch taxpayers billions of euros and that the EU’s expansion
driver is having an adverse impact on democracy in the Netherlands.
They also
argue that the Dutch parliament no longer does what its own voters want, but
are driven by Brussels’ own interests.
If there is a referendum, the results
will not be binding on parliament.
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