The Netherlands submitted a request to the European Commission on Wednesday to obtain an opt-out clause from standard EU asylum rules. Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber said, “The Dutch government will call for an opt-out from the European asylum and migration acquis in case of Treaty amendment.”
Faber promised that the “Netherlands will have the strictest asylum regime ever”. However, in her letter to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, she acknowledged the controversy surrounding the request and assured the Commission that the Netherlands would continue to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Pact requires member states to show “mandatory solidarity” by supporting asylum seekers through either relocation, funding those rejected, or financing operational support. It was the product of four years of tense negotiations.
The commission was quick to reject the prospect of an upcoming Treaty change, while doubts have also been expressed over whether member states will be receptive to the Netherlands’ request.
A recent statement by the Ministry of Asylum and Migration forewarned the Netherland’s intentions to seek an opt-out:
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The Netherlands is unable to cope with the high numbers of migrants. Asylum centres are overcrowded, procedures take too long and costs are becoming excessive. Moreover, the continued asylum influx is exacerbating problems in the areas of public housing, health care and education. This government is introducing the strictest asylum regime ever in order to regain control of the situation.
King Willem-Alexander also delivered a speech to the members of the States General. He said that the growth of the Dutch population to 18 million has placed unprecedented stressors on the the country’s public services. Accordingly, he declared that “[t]he government will do everything in its power to reduce the number of asylum applications and tackle the desperate situation in places like Ter Apel and Budel as rapidly as possible”.
The move is aligned with the government’s general reform policy on asylum, which includes the introduction of more rigorous border surveillance. The government intends to introduce a legislative change to the Council of State this autumn, which will seek stricter terms on family reunification. Under the proposed reform, family reunification will only be possible if someone has permanent accommodation, a suitable source of income and has been a resident for a minimum of two years.
The government hopes to become a leader in Europe over admission rules and intends to allocate 95 million Euros in 2025 to this end.
