Media: Netherlands is blocking adoption of final declaration from Ukraine-EU summit
Interfax-Ukraine, citing a source in diplomatic circles, reports that the adoption of a joint statement on the results of the Ukraine-EU summit, which will be held in Kyiv on July 12-13, is at risk of breakdown due to the position of the Netherlands.
"The reason for this was the blocking by the Netherlands of a possible capturing in the joint statement of the provision on recognition by the European Union of Ukraine's European aspirations " the source said.
According to him, this position is associated with the process of forming a new government coalition and Premier Mark Rutte's intention to once more use the "Ukrainian card" to solve domestic political problems.
The source added that such behavior by the Netherlands side "causes disappointment and misunderstanding both in European capitals and in Ukraine."
Earlier, the Netherlands blocked the ratification of the agreement on the association of Ukraine and the EU for three years. This issue was put to a referendum, and the Dutch voted "against".
As a compromise, the Netherlands was required to prescribe in the agreement that it does not imply automatic guarantees of security, military assistance and financial support to Ukraine and does not give Ukrainians the right to live and work freely in the EU. None of these possibilities was guaranteed by the association agreement, but the Dutch government wanted to clearly bring them beyond the document in order to reassure voters. EU leaders agreed with this, and at the same time demanded that Ukraine more actively fight against widespread corruption.
As a result, in late May 2017, the Netherlands was the last of the EU countries to ratify the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The agreement should enter into force in the coming months.