Dutch Senate to vote on Ukraine-EU Association after 2017 elections

The government of the Netherlands will submit for review to the Senate the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement for ratification “after March 15, 2017, given that the issue is quite politicized,” Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister on Euro-integration Olena Zerkal told local Ukrainian radio on Dec. 27. She said 43-44 out of 75 senators are ready to support the ratification after compromise adjustments that were added.

The Netherlands will hold elections to its House of Representatives on March 15. In April this year, a popular referendum organized by the far Left and far Right parties rejected the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which had been also portrayed as a referendum on EU policies. A compromise was announced on Dec. 15 in which the agreement wouldn’t be amended, but Dutch demands would be adopted as part of additions to the text.

Zenon Zawada: It’s positive the EU establishment, both in Brussels and in Amsterdam, seems to be getting over their denial of the nationalist wave sweeping Europe and is reacting accordingly. Shifting the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement off the political radar screen is the best thing to do to ensure its approval afterwards. That way, it won’t become another political football, especially to motivate the nationalist forces, which could be poised for large gains. 

If the nationalist/isolationist forces do make large gains, we expect that even the compromise version could be rejected afterwards. However, this won’t halt Ukraine’s EU integration measures. If the compromise is approved, it will restrict Ukrainians in their ability to work and reside in the EU, as well as eliminate any military cooperation, as had been sought by the Russians.