International

A large majority of the voters has said 'no' to the European Union’s Association Agreement with the Ukraine, a treaty which must be ratified by all 28 EU member states before it can come into force. Commenting on the result shortly before the final tallies were made, SP leader Emile Roemer said: "It's now clear that the Netherlands has voted en masse against this treaty. Politicians in general and the government in particular cannot ignore this result. The Netherlands' no-vote is good for Ukraine, good for the Netherlands and good for Europe."

The 'no' is advantageous to the Netherlands, Europe and Ukraine, as Roemer explains. "When this treaty has been definitively scrapped, we can really get on with aiding Ukraine. Not by enriching the oligarchs, but by constructing a constitutional state and combating corruption. By training judges, building trade unions and supporting the free press. And we can help in making the country more stable."