Dutch govt. needs more time to deal with Ukraine referendum

The government needs more time to find a solution on what to do about the problems resulting after the Netherlands voted against ratifying an association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs wrote to parliament on Monday, NU.nl reports.

This letter comes just a day before the deadline parliament set the government for making a decision. The Ministers call it "in the national interest" that more time is taken to find a suitable solution.

The government wants a compromise in which the agreement is ratified, but the concerns of the Dutch voters are also eased. "This process takes time, more than many in the Netherlands find desirable", the Ministers wrote.