Amsterdam - Arab Today
Dutch voters on Wednesday resoundingly rejected a referendum on an agreement to strengthen ties between the European Union and Ukraine, sending a negative sign to the EU amid growing eurosceptic sentiment.
With 80 per cent of the vote counted, about 61 per cent opposed the referendum, according to the (dpa).
Voter turnout was 32 per cent, which was high enough to reach the minimum required in order for the result to be valid. Earlier estimates of voter turnout had put it under the 30-per-cent minimum.
The vote is non-binding, but the rejection of the referendum is an embarrassment to the Netherlands, which currently holds the EU presidency.
Around 13 million Dutch people had been called upon to vote on the referendum
ٍSource: QNA