Netherlands, four others blocked Ukraine's path to EU membership

A group of five European Union Countries, including the Netherlands, fought against the Ukraine getting membership to the EU during the negotiations on the association agreement with the country, French diplomat Pierre Vermont said in an interview with the Volkskrant. According to Vermont, EU membership for the Ukraine came up several times, and it was always the same discussion. "A group of countries, including the Baltic States, Poland, Britain and Sweden, wanted to incorporate a notion about the prospect of membership in the final text", he said. "But a second group of countries consisting of France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, opposed it. This group refused to commit to any promise for the future." On Thursday Prime Minister Mark Rutte also stated that the Netherlands is against EU membership for Ukraine in an interview with NU.nl. According to him, it is important that the Ukraine eventually has a good relationship with both the EU and Russia, and that can not happen if it is an EU member. The Netherlands is voting in a referendum on the association agreement between the EU and the Ukraine on Wednesday, April 6th. According to Vermont, a "no" vote could mean that the agreement will be divided into separate parts. "The trade agreement only requires a majority vote. The political part, for which unanimity is required, can be poured int a separate treaty", in which the Netherlands does not have to take part.