Dear Netherlanders,
On April 6 (coming Wednesday) you will decide on the future of the Association Agreement (AA) between EU and Ukraine.
As you probably know (despite my confusing name for you ;)) I am Ukrainian who lives in the Netherlands.
There are all sorts of misleadings about the agreement are spreading around recently. Unfortunately many people tend to accept them. Thus many people will vote based on the reasons that have hardly something to do with the actual matter.
To make a conscious choice it is important to know what Association Agreement really means for both parties.
Here are my findings and thoughts about this.
This agreement is not about joining the EU, not about providing massive financial support to Ukraine, not about opening the EU to Ukrainian workers or migrants. EU has already the same agreements with over 25 countries around the world. I do not see how the AA could make our relations with Russia any worse. They must become only better with time.
The Association Agreement is an agreement about cooperation. It includes win-win free trade agreement. Ukraine commits to adopt a number of European norms and standards, strengthen rule of law, tackle corruption, participate in combating cross-border crime, terrorism and improve situation with human rights and intellectual property in the country. The Association Agreement will open more opportunities for European/Dutch business in Ukraine and protect their investments inside the country.
The AA has special meaning for Ukrainians. We paid an enormous price for it already. "Suspension" of the AA by the government brought people to the streets. That's how Euromaidan started. Ukrainian people made their choice to have these painful but so essential changes and they are on their way towards changing the country for the better. The Association Agreement will help them in this. On April 6 that is your chance to support them.
I encourage you to make your own investigation on the subject. Reading short official information about AA or even wikipedia article could be sufficient to see better the real picture.
Please be reasonable and come to vote!
FYI There is a possibility to vote without coming to the polling place personally. See your local municipality website for more information.
Thank you for your consideration!
Kind regards,
Ruslan Forostianov
@Dutchie0404
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have seen your comment just now when the result of the referendum is known.
I am not specialist in this area (as not many voters were), but I could say that your considerations are not free from confusions. Here are some of them: International Monetary Fund (IMF) operations vs European Union Association Agreement, Visa Free Regime for visitors vs Work Permit.
I might have been mistaken in some positions but at least I am speaking from my name. I have not created anonymous account and signed the message on behalf of all the people.
Luckily you could not speak from the name of all Netherlanders even when you collected all common "arguments" of No camp.
I could understand reasons of your annoyances and fears, but I don't think you would address them by rejecting the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine.
Anyhow only time will tell.
I wish you all the best,
Ruslan Forostianov