On Tuesday 30 May, the Dutch Senate voted (by 50 votes in favour and 25 against) to ratify the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker immediately hailed the vote, saying that it "sends an important signal from the Netherlands and the entire European Union to our Ukrainian friends: Ukraine's place is in Europe. Ukraine's future lies with Europe". In a press release, Juncker thanked the Dutch government and the leadership of other political parties for their efforts in bringing this process to a positive conclusion.
Following a referendum rejecting the association agreement, the Netherlands called on its European partners for guarantees on the agreement (see EUROPE 11690). On 16 December, the Dutch government adopted draft legislation aimed at confirming the Netherlands' ratification of the association agreement, and on 23 February the draft legislation was approved by the lower chamber (see EUROPE 11733).
Juncker said he hoped the ratification process would be finalised swiftly, "in time for the EU-Ukraine summit in July". According to the Ukrainian side, this summit will be held in Kiev on 13 July.
The Netherlands is still due to finalise its ratification process, which means the legislation will have to be signed by the King, then published in the Official Journal of the Netherlands and, after that, the instrument of ratification will have to be deposited with the General Secretariat of the EU Council. The agreement will enter into force the first day of the second month following the date of deposit of the last instrument of ratification or approval. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)