The leaders of the European Union have agreed to the proposals voiced by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, aimed at unblocking the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which was suspended due to the negative outcome of the referendum in the Netherlands, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Brussels.
The corresponding conclusions of the EU Council were published on its website Thursday, following the completion of the official part of the EU summit.
”After having carefully noted the outcome of the Dutch referendum on 6 April 2016 on the bill approving the Association Agreement and the concerns expressed prior to the referendum as conveyed by the Dutch Prime Minister, the European Council takes note of a Decision of the Heads of State or Government of the 28 Member States of the European Union, meeting within the European Council (Annex), which addresses these concerns in full conformity with the Association Agreement and the EU treaties,” the Conclusion reads.
”The European Council notes that the Decision set out in the Annex is legally binding on the 28 Member States of the European Union, and may be amended or repealed only by common accord of their Heads of State or Government. It will take effect once the Kingdom of the Netherlands has ratified the agreement and the Union has concluded it. Should this not be the case, the Decision will cease to exist,” says the document.
Earlier, after one and a half hours of talks, Mark Rutte and the EU leaders have agreed on the Dutch requirements to sign an annex to the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which would explain its contents.
