Dutch Ukraine referendum: EU ability to sign international treaties at stake

Rem Korteweg Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform, a think tank in London, told BNE Intellinews that membership perspective for neighbouring countries, be it Ukraine or Balkan countries, already unlikely, could become even more distant. “It is very likely that any enlargement decision will be subjected to a referendum, in the Netherlands or elsewhere, and rejected. The Dutch government will be very hesitant to agree to any enlargement in the current circumstances”, Korteweg explains.

Many have said the Dutch no vote is a win for Russia’s geopolitical game in Europe. CER’s Korteweg says “the outcome of the referendum will not immediately influence the EU’s relationship with Russia. But Russia will use the No vote as part of its narrative and say that obviously the European people agree that Ukraine is run by corrupt criminals. So doing, it helps the Kremlin to build support for its position in Europe.”