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A MASSIVE BLOW was handed to European unity today, with Eurosceptics claiming a huge win.
However, we’re still two months away from the UK’s In-Out referendum on EU membership, so what’s all the fuss about?
At its heart, the Dutch people were asked a simple question:
Are you for or against the Approval Act of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine?
Passing of the measure was required for the EU to forge closer links with Ukraine. The measure had been passed by prime minister Mark Rutte’s government in January, but had to be put to the Dutch people.
While only 32% of Dutch people turned out, 61% voted against the measures.
The Netherlands is now the only member in the 28-nation EU not to have ratified the Ukraine accord which has already been given the thumbs up by both the upper and lower houses of the Dutch parliament.
Rutte agreed “the ‘no’ camp won convincingly”.
What happens next?
Nobody really knows.
It remains unclear what will happen next, with Rutte vowing a “step-by-step” approach in full consultation with the government and EU leaders Brussels. Official full results are only due on 12 April.
The other thing to note is that the vote is non-binding. It could, however, mean that the coalition government – already under fire due to the refugee crisis – will seek to opt out of certain provisions of the EU-Ukraine deal to satisfy the voters.
It could also be a boost for the Dutch far-right, with Geert Wilders’s Freedom Party (PVV) which is already riding high in the polls due to his stand against migrants..
Is it like a Brexit?
In short: no.
The deal is a lot less important to the EU than the membership of Great Britain.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said today that he hopes voters approach the referendums differently as they are “very different issues”.
However, that hasn’t stopped UKIP’s Nigel Farage from jumping on the issue.
Farage said Dutch campaigners could come to Britain to help in the Leave campaign.
“I look forward to working with them,” he said.
Dutch Leave campaigners say that they’ll get involved, urging Britons to vote to leave the EU.
“Nobody could accuse the Dutch of not being good Europeans, but they have no willingness to open their borders to more migrants and pick up the tab for Ukraine’s problems, just like most UK voters,” said Leave.EU spokesman Brian Monteith.
The vote was a signal to the British to follow suit, he said, adding: “The sun is now setting on the European Union.”
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March is the new February
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March …the Orange orders favored month …
“Im
Dreaming
Of a white
Saint Patricks day…”
Said no one ever…..
…. standin on the flat bit behind the railings at the Bank of Ireland gettin the ears bate off with snow and wind, oh happy days.
March weather ,
Can be in like a lion and out like a lamb or vice versa. …
Heard it called ‘March Many Weathers’ in the olden days :-). Hate to spoil things but I have seen snow in May in Dublin [ not saying that it did not snow elsewhere in the country that day just in case the culchies get uppity about it ]
We always get a snow in March it’s not surprising, tis a mad month for oul weather.
In like a lion, out like a lamb
Seems like the county councils don’t know that. Hardly a road from my house to work sanded (1 hour drive across Kildare). Nightmare! Nearly lost my life last year getting to work. Looks like this year will be the same.
‘March many weathers’ BUT grass officially starts to grow on 17th and it better hay getting low
We had weather this time last year .
We have weather all the time. It’s brilliant.
Feed the birds and leave out some water. OK?? :-)
I got cruciate ligament reconstruction few weeks ago.Snow and ice is the last thing I need.
Lousy smarch weather
Met Éireann issue a snow warning after the snow has started. Did they not realise until they looked out the window of their building in Glasnevin this morning? Our tax money hard at work as usual.
Snowing here in Roscommon and one to two inches on the ground.
Dublin gets a bit of snow and its a big news story who gives a toss
What, Dingle is in dublin now? Dublin is mentioned because of the rugby game, several other areas are also mentioned.
David if you bothered the read the article properly you’ll find its all over the country you tool !
And, well oiled, twenty eejits gave him a green thumb.
That Dingle video has me so chilled that I’ve to go back bed for a few hours.
Snowing in Dublin all morning not sticking though
TBH there’s so many weather/wind warning lately, I actually don’t take them seriously….cry wolf.
Chicken stew bubbling away on the stove,bring on the snow.
Nearly slide off the road three times today @ 30km an hr, adrenalin / white knuckle driving …so glad to be a home curled up in a fur ball!
Long as it’s not a regurgitated cats fur ball
March can always be a cruel month? As can April…
Ireland doing great woopppee
Cold weather is not unusual for March. As per usual the journal tries to make a story out of nothing.
Stop reading it then!
I think Maurice, that the journal were relaying a weather warning issued by met eireann, as did most media outlets in the country.
Looks like snow Ted.
Where is the snow. Do tell
Well it is not snowing!!! The Journal is obsessed with exaggerating the weather. Give us a break
You mean it’s not snowing where *you* are? You know that people around Ireland read the Journal…not just you and your neighbours? :D
Colin, I’ve just finished building my kids a snowman. Looks real enough to me
Why do they forecast ‘hail’ when it’s too cold for it?
Too cover their asses!
There was hail this morning in South Kildare and this afternoon in Central Dublin. I know because it landed on my head.
South Kildare and Central Dublin?Man, you must have an awful big head….
Roasting over here in lanzarote 23 c
8======>~~~
What is the name of the music track in the video?
The dubliner’s
Lousy Smarch weather!
have your say