Netherlands rejects EU-Ukraine partnership deal

Voters in the Netherlands have  in a referendum rejected an EU partnership deal to remove trade barriers with Ukraine.

Turnout was low, but above the 30 percent threshold for the vote to be valid. 

The deal was rejected by 61-point-one percent of votes, compared with 38-point-one percent in favour.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the government may have to reconsider the deal, although the vote is not binding. 

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko insisted his country would continue the movement towards the EU.

A Foreign Ministry official in Kiev said the result was disappointing. 

The vote was widely seen in the Netherlands as a test of public opinion towards the EU.  


SOURCE: BBC news