Prime minister Mark Rutte on Friday made an urgent appeal to opposition parties to support his efforts to reach a compromise over the Ukraine referendum result.
The rejection of the EU’s proposed accession treaty with the former Soviet state was non-binding, but Rutte has promised to ‘do justice’ to the outcome.
‘This is bigger than the Netherlands,’ Rutte said at his weekly press conference after Friday’s cabinet meeting. The treaty will help create a stable country on the eastern edge of Europe, he said.
The Netherlands is the only EU country which has not yet ratified the treaty.
The prime minister said he is trying to find a solution which ‘does justice to’ the no vote but which will allow the Netherlands to sign the treaty.
By not signing, the Dutch position could threaten the stability of Europe, he said. ‘I am standing here with empty hands,’ the prime minister said. ‘The nation’s interest is best served by a stable Europe.’
Parliament has asked the cabinet to provide a response before November 1.
