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French MP Predicts Dutch ‘No’ to EU-Ukraine Association

© Sputnik / Andrey Stenin / Go to the mediabankRally to support Ukraine's integration with Europe on Independence Square, Kiev. (File photo)
Rally to support Ukraine's integration with Europe on Independence Square, Kiev. (File photo) - Sputnik International
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The results of an upcoming Dutch referendum on EU-Ukraine association may reflect the Europeans’ disillusionment with the EU’s “open door policy,” a French MP said.

Flags of Ukraine and the European Union in Kiev - Sputnik International
Dutch ‘No’ Vote on EU-Ukraine Association Could Force Gov’t to Nix the Deal
According to the latest opinion polls over 55 percent of the Dutch electorate are going to vote against the measure and only 44.5 will vote for Ukraine’s proposed association with the 28-nation European Union.

The year 2016 will be very dangerous, even critical for the EU, Thierry Mariani, a former Transport Minister and a member of The Republicans (a center-right political party led by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy) said in an interview with Moscow-based newsmagazine Ogonyok.

“In the April 16 referendum the Dutch will vote on EU-Ukraine association. Judging by the recent opinion polls, most of them are going to vote against it. If they do, it will mean that Europeans are already fed up with this ‘open door’ policy and are no longer able to pay for everyone,” he stressed.

On Saturday Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders warned that if people voted against the EU-Ukraine association agreement in the upcoming referendum, the government would have to review its position on the treaty.

The Netherlands is the only EU country, which has not yet ratified the Ukraine-EU association deal.

The government decided to hold a non-binding referendum after over 450,000 people signed a petition to put the matter to a nationwide vote.

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