{"id":4481,"date":"2016-04-01T13:50:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T12:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/04\/01\/stem-jij-donderdag-voor-of-tegen\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:16","slug":"stem-jij-donderdag-voor-of-tegen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/04\/01\/stem-jij-donderdag-voor-of-tegen\/","title":{"rendered":"Will you vote for or against on Wednesday?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pro-Europese demonstratie in Kiev, eind 2013<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvgeny Feldman<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Unless you\u2019ve been living in a cave there\u2019s no way you could have missed it: on Wednesday we will go to the ballot box to vote on the association treaty between Ukraine and the European Union. The treaty pertains to a number of matters including trade, domestic reforms, and security and stability the Eastern European country.<\/p>\n

Many issues \u2013 including siding with or against Putin, the supposed dissension among Ukrainians themselves, and what is perceived as lack a lack of democracy in the European Union \u2013 have all been alluded to, but many no longer see the forest for the trees. EM <\/em>asked four Rotterdam-based student politicians for their voting recommendations.<\/p>\n

FOR \u2013 \u2018For a more stable Ukraine\u2019<\/h3>
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Marco Voormolen<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Marco Voormolen (26), Bachelor\u2019s student History and Law, political consultant for D66 Rotterdam<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in favour of this association agreement because of the benefits it will bring in the areas of trade and security and stability for all parties. We can\u2019t forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for freedom and democracy on Maidan (Independence) Square in Kiev. A lot of people are worried that Ukraine will join the EU as a result of this agreement, but I believe that that is out of the question for the time being.<\/p>\n

Opponents believe that we\u2019re meddling in Russia\u2019s sphere of influence with this agreement, and that this could jeopardise Europe\u2019s stability. What I feel is most important is that Putin crossed a line with his aggressive behaviour. Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic state that has the right to self-determination. I\u2019ve been told that 72% of Ukrainians support this agreement and it would actually make Ukraine, and by extension the external borders of Europe, more stable.<\/p>\n

This agreement is beneficial for Europe\u2019s future. Even though it is complicated and doesn\u2019t seem to be our concern, it is important to exercise your right to vote. If not enough people participate in the referendum (less than 30% of voters), the agreement will be adopted in any case. But I believe every citizen has the civic duty to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

AGAINST \u2013 \u2018Cast your ballot as a protest vote\u2019<\/h3>
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Wassim Benali en Burak Yildiz<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Wassim Benali (22), Bachelor\u2019s student Public Administration, member of SP Rotterdam and youth wing ROOD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe average voter has no idea what this agreement is about. Instead of democracy and anti-corruption, this agreement is mainly about expanding the influence of large European organisations. One example is that European banks will invest 1 billion in megastables, something that is very detrimental to animal welfare in Ukraine. It\u2019s mostly the banks who will benefit from this agreement as the treaty makes it easier for them to conclude \u2018package deals\u2019 with large Ukrainian companies.<\/p>\n

Simply removing Ukraine from Russia\u2019s sphere of influence and placing it in Europe\u2019s sphere of influence won\u2019t result in democracy. Real independence would be better served, for example, by a free-trade agreement that would allow Ukraine to trade with both the EU and Russia.<\/p>\n

I recommend that students who aren\u2019t sure what the agreement is about should abstain from voting. This way, you\u2019re exercising your right to vote and above all, the electoral threshold will be reached. This means that in the end the voice of the people will be respected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burak Yildiz (24), Bachelor\u2019s student Law and Philosophy, member of SP Rotterdam and youth wing ROOD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile supporters of the agreement have said a lot about democracy, it\u2019s actually the European Union that on the whole is undemocratic. The EU makes decisions without consulting citizens and this association treaty is an excellent example.<\/p>\n

The \u2018yes\u2019 camp asserts that the vast majority of the population supports the agreement, but I think that at least half of the country leans in the direction of Russia. You have to ask yourself why you would want to destabilise Ukraine even more by creating a rift between pro-Europe and anti-Europe groups.<\/p>\n

This is an advisory referendum and this emphasises once again that the decision has already been made. On 6 April Dutch voters have to show whether there is still support for the European Union. So your vote is about more than just this particular agreement: cast your ballot as a protest vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

BLANK \u2013 \u2018Supporter, but not fully convinced\u2019<\/h3>
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Henk van Beek<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Henk van Beek (23), Bachelor\u2019s student Economics, Fiscal Economics and Law, secretary and vice-chairman JOVD Rijnmond and member of VVD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe debate is very polarised and there are so many other issues involved when voting for or against. It\u2019s D66 versus PVV and pro-EU against anti-EU. This shouldn\u2019t be the issue; it should be purely about the agreement itself. In that regard I find myself in agreement with arguments from both camps.<\/p>\n

For example, in the area of trade I think it\u2019s good if we get access to the Ukrainian market and they get access to the European Union market. I\u2019m much less positive when it comes to eliminating corruption. Look at Romania and Greece. Both countries are still corrupt even though they are members of the European Union. It is far too idealistic to think that we as the EU can just step in and change Ukraine.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure it was such a good idea for EU politicians \u2013 including Hans van Baalen from my own party \u2013 to meddle so explicitly in Ukrainian domestic affairs. But now that it\u2019s done, I think it\u2019s going too far to obstruct the agreement. Still, I\u2019m not sufficiently convinced enough to actually support the agreement which is why I\u2019m going to give in a blank vote.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t vote you\u2019re letting others decide for you. I feel that everyone \u2013 especially university students \u2013 should vote and be counted. It\u2019s a pointless exercise not to vote in the hope that the electoral threshold won\u2019t be reached.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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