The Netherlands prepares for a referendum against TAFTA
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Sputnik | 8 April 2016
The Netherlands prepares for a referendum against TAFTA
Translated by Anoosha Boralessa (Sunday 10 April 2016). Not reviewed by bilaterals.org or any other person or organization.
The Netherlands envisages organizing a referendum of the Transatlantic Free Trade Treaty (TAFTA) between the United States and the European Union.
This information was published by the Dutch newspaper, Financieele Dagblad.
"Soon, a new referendum in the Netherlands. TTIP opponents are expecting it”, the newspaper reports.
Although the Transatlantic Free Trade Treaty (also called the TTIP or the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) between the United States and the European Union is still only at the scrutiny stage, activists have already received 67,000 signatures in support of the referendum. In their view, the newspaper notes this treaty threatens democracy, food safety, social security and protection of animals.
The Treaty on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is subject to the law on consultative referendums. This is because it requires ratification by all EU Member States’ Parliaments before it can enter into force.
During a consultative referendum on Wednesday, 64% of Dutch voters have said no to the association agreement between the Ukraine and the European Union.
Initially, the rate of participation was established at 29%, with a 3% margin of error. So indicated the public television NOS on the basis of the polls carried out by Ipsos. The latter then updated its results. The margin of error was still the same and the rate of participation was declared to be 32%.
According to the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, the Netherlands will not be able to pursue the process of ratifying an Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union after a referendum became a symbolic vote on the EU.
Since July 2013, the European Union has been leading the negotiations behind closed doors on the TTIP or TAFTA. This treaty is supposed to reduce the costs and to eliminate barriers in trade relations between the European Union and the United States. Those opposing the treaty consider that this only reflects the position of multinationals interested in reducing controls and a weakening of economic regulation in Europe.
