Why the Netherlands Wants to Opt Out of the EU’s Migration Pact

Summary

The Dutch government's new immigration policy, branded as Europe's strictest, aims to freeze asylum applications and deport more individuals. They plan to opt out of the EU's migration pact and create a 'mini Schengen' zone with like-minded countries. The policy includes six main points: activating exemptions from the Foreigners Act, introducing an asylum crisis act, opting out of the EU pact, comprehensive asylum reform, changes for Ukrainian asylum seekers, and stricter naturalization requirements. The video discusses the potential effectiveness and political motivations behind these reforms.

Takeaways

• 🇳🇱 The Dutch coalition government is pursuing some of the strictest immigration reforms in Europe.
• 📜 They published a manifesto in May with controversial immigration policies, including freezing asylum applications and deporting more people.
• 🔄 An updated government program confirms the Netherlands' intention to opt out of the EU's new migration pact.
• 🏢 The government aims to build a 'mini Schengen' zone with like-minded countries, similar to a 2015 proposal.
• 👥 The governing coalition consists of four right-wing parties, with the Freedom Party (PVV) advocating for the strictest asylum policies.
• 📊 Immigration was a major issue in the last national election, with the PVV winning a significant share of the vote.
• 🛑 The proposed policies include activating the exemptions clause from the Foreigners Act 2000, which would allow the government to take extraordinary measures without parliamentary approval.
• 🚫 They plan to introduce a new Asylum Crisis Act to freeze decisions on asylum applications and increase deportations.
• 🇪🇺 Opting out of the EU's new pact on asylum and migration is unlikely to be approved, as it would undermine the entire project.
• 🏡 Asylum reforms include comprehensive structural changes to reduce entries and increase deportations, with stricter requirements for naturalization.
• 🔄 The government is also tightening support for Ukrainian asylum seekers and raising language requirements for naturalization.

Q & A

What was the most controversial policy area in the Dutch coalition government's initial manifesto?

The most controversial policy area was immigration, with pledges to freeze asylum applications, limit immigration rights, and deport more people.

What is the Netherlands' stance on the EU's new migration pact?

The Netherlands wants to opt out of the EU's new migration pact and build a 'mini Schengen' zone with likeminded countries.

Which four right-wing parties make up the Netherlands' governing coalition?

The governing coalition is composed of the center-right People's Party (VVD), the New Social Contract Party (NSC), the populist agrarian Farmers and Citizens Movement, and the Freedom Party (PVV).

How did the Freedom Party (PVV) perform in the last national election?

The PVV, led by Thierry Baudet, won a quarter of the vote share and 37 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, unseating the center-right VVD as the largest party in the Netherlands for the first time since 2010.

What does the Dutch government's new policy aim to achieve in terms of asylum?

The new policy aims to establish the strictest asylum regime ever, making it more difficult for asylum seekers to enter the Netherlands legally and increasing the rate of deportations.

What is the first main point of the Dutch government's new migration reforms?

The first point is activating the exemptions clause from the Foreigners Act 2000, which would allow the government to establish rules for extenuating circumstances, making it easier to revoke asylum permits and deport more people.

What is the purpose of the new Asylum Crisis Act proposed by the Dutch government?

The purpose of the new Asylum Crisis Act is to introduce extra powers to freeze all decisions on asylum applications and to deport as many people as possible, including by force if necessary.

Why does the Netherlands want to opt out of the EU's new pact on asylum and migration?

The Netherlands presumably objects to the 'solidarity mechanism' in the EU's new pact, which obliges member states to take in asylum seekers from countries that receive a disproportionate number, potentially leading to the redistribution of asylum seekers from frontier countries like Italy to the Netherlands.

What is the 'mini Schengen' that the Netherlands wants to build?

The 'mini Schengen' refers to a proposed cooperation zone with like-minded and surrounding countries, similar to the Schengen Area, which allows for passport-free travel among its members.

What are the implications of the Dutch government's plan to tighten naturalization requirements for Dutch citizenship?

The implications include doubling the waiting period to 10 years, expecting naturalized citizens to renounce their original nationality, raising the language requirement to B1 intermediate, and pushing for migrants to become productive on the labor market as quickly as possible.

How does the script suggest that some of the Dutch government's proposals might be perceived?

Some of the proposals might be seen as electioneering rather than serious policy proposals, aimed at burnishing the government's anti-immigration and euroskeptic credentials with their base.

Outlines

00:00

🇳🇱 Dutch Immigration Reforms

The Dutch coalition government, composed of four right-wing parties, has introduced new immigration reforms that are considered the strictest in Europe. The reforms were a key issue in the last national election, where the Freedom Party (PVV), known for its stringent immigration policies, won a significant share of votes. The new policies include activating the exemptions clause from the Foreigners Act 2000, which would allow the government to establish rules for extenuating circumstances, making it easier to revoke asylum permits and deport individuals causing a nuisance. The government also plans to introduce a new asylum crisis act, which is a temporary law aimed at freezing all decisions on asylum applications and deporting as many people as possible. Additionally, the Netherlands is opting out of the EU's new pact on asylum and migration, which includes a solidarity mechanism that would require member states to take in asylum seekers from countries with a disproportionate number of arrivals. The government also aims to build a 'mini Schengen' zone with like-minded countries. These proposals have been criticized as anti-democratic and are unlikely to be approved by the EU, but they serve to strengthen the government's anti-immigration stance.

05:01

🔒 Stricter Asylum and Citizenship Policies

The Dutch government's comprehensive asylum reform package aims to reduce overall entries into the Netherlands and increase the rate of deportations. The package includes restrictions on family members, placing the burden of proof for the right to asylum almost entirely on the individual, and limiting legal assistance for asylum seekers. It also involves downgrading shelter and shutting down emergency accommodations. For Ukrainian asylum seekers, the Netherlands has stopped all accommodation support for those with an income, although they are still covered by the EU's temporary protection mechanism until March 2026. The government is also tightening naturalization requirements for Dutch citizenship, doubling the waiting period to 10 years and raising the language requirement to B1 intermediate. These measures are intended to make it more difficult for asylum seekers and their families to enter the Netherlands legally and to increase deportations, potentially reducing the flow of migration into the country. However, the feasibility of these hardline immigration policies is uncertain and could lead to tensions within the coalition government.

Keywords

💡Immigration

Immigration refers to the movement of people into a country with the intention to reside there. In the context of the video, it is a central theme as the Dutch coalition government's policies are focused on limiting immigration and reforming asylum laws.

💡Asylum Applications

Asylum Applications are requests made by individuals who seek protection and refuge in another country due to fear of persecution in their home country. The video discusses the Dutch government's pledge to freeze these applications as part of their strict immigration policy.

💡Deportation

Deportation is the process of expelling or returning a person from one country to another due to violation of immigration policy. The script mentions the government's plan to deport more people as a measure in their new migration reforms.

💡EU's New Migration Pact

The EU's New Migration Pact refers to a set of policies and agreements designed to manage migration within the European Union. The video explains that the Netherlands wants to opt out of this pact, which is a significant part of their new migration strategy.

💡Mini Schengen Zone

A Mini Schengen Zone is a proposed area where countries with similar migration policies can collaborate closely on border controls and immigration. The video mentions the Netherlands' intention to build such a zone with like-minded countries.

💡Foreigners Act 2000

The Foreigners Act 2000 is a Dutch law that governs the residence and employment of non-Dutch citizens. The video discusses the government's plan to activate an exemption clause from this act to establish stricter rules for asylum and deportation.

💡Asylum Crisis Act

The Asylum Crisis Act is a proposed temporary law aimed at giving the government extra powers to manage the asylum process during a crisis. The script highlights this as part of the Dutch government's strategy to handle asylum applications.

💡Solidarity Mechanism

The Solidarity Mechanism is a part of the EU's migration pact that requires member states to take in asylum seekers from countries with a high number of arrivals. The video explains that the Dutch government objects to this mechanism as part of their desire to control their own migration policy.

💡Asylum Reform Package

The Asylum Reform Package refers to a set of structural changes proposed by the Dutch government to reduce the number of people entering the country for asylum and to increase deportation rates. The video outlines these reforms as part of the strictest asylum regime ever.

💡Naturalization

Naturalization is the process by which a non-citizen in a country can become a citizen. The video discusses the Dutch government's plan to tighten naturalization requirements, including longer waiting periods and higher language proficiency levels.

💡Productive on the Labor Market

Being productive on the labor market means contributing to the economy through employment. The script mentions the government's desire for migrants to become quickly productive, indicating a shift towards a more skills-based migration policy.

Highlights

The Dutch coalition government's most controversial policy area is immigration.

They pledged to freeze asylum applications and deport more people.

The Netherlands published an updated government program confirming its intention to opt out of the EU's new migration pact.

The country plans to build a 'mini Schengen' zone with likeminded countries.

The Netherlands' new migration reforms are branded the strictest in Europe.

The governing coalition is made up of four right-wing parties with strict migration policies.

Immigration was a major issue in the last national election, helping the Freedom Party (PVV) win a significant vote share.

The PVV's success signaled a shift towards a more nationalistic agenda in Dutch politics.

The government aims for the strictest asylum regime ever.

The new policies cover six main points, including activating the exemptions clause from the Foreigners Act 2000.

The government could more easily revoke asylum permits and deport people causing a nuisance.

The opposition has condemned the proposal as anti-democratic.

A new Asylum Crisis Act would introduce extra powers to freeze asylum decisions and increase deportations.

The Netherlands wants to opt out of the EU's new pact on asylum and migration, objecting to the solidarity mechanism.

The country also wants to build a mini Schengen with surrounding countries, similar to a 2015 proposal.

A comprehensive asylum reform package aims to reduce entries and increase deportations.

Support for Ukrainian asylum seekers is being reduced, focusing on increasing financial independence.

Naturalization requirements for Dutch citizenship are being tightened, including a longer waiting period and higher language proficiency.

The effectiveness of these new asylum reforms is uncertain and may be seen as electioneering.

The proposals risk igniting tensions within the coalition over migration and asylum policies.

The strict asylum package will be an interesting test for other migration skeptic parties in Europe.

Transcripts

this video was brought to you by imprint

when the Dutch coalition government

first published their Manifesto back in

May their most controversial policy area

was immigration they pledged to freeze

Asylum applications massively limit

immigration rights and Deport more

people then on Friday the Netherlands

published an updated government program

confirming that the country wants to opt

out of the eu's new migration pact and

build a so-called mini shenen Zone with

likeminded countries so in this video

we'll take a look at the Netherlands new

migration reforms branded the strictest

in Europe why they want to opt out of

the eu's new migration pact and whether

these plans can actually

[Music]

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off with code shenan but first let's

start with some context the Netherlands

governing Coalition is made up of four

right-wing parties the center right

people's party or vvd the new social

contract party or NSC the populist

agrarian Farmers citizen movement and

the Freedom Party or pvv who are usually

described as far right and have some of

the strictest migration and Asylum

policies in Europe now immigration was a

major issue at the last national

election in November helping the pvv led

by Builders come out on top winning a

quarter of the vote share and 37 seats

in the 150 seat House of Representatives

unseating the center right vvd as the

largest party in the Netherlands for the

first time since 2010 anyway the pbv's

notable success at the last election

signaled the direction of Dutch politics

would be heading in with more

nationalistic agenda and a key emphasis

on reforming the Asylum system working

towards what the current cabinet calls

the strictest Asylum regime ever so

let's take a look at the specific

policies set out on Friday and it covers

six main points so we'll take a look at

each of them in turn first up is

activating the exemptions Clause from

the foreigners act 2000 essentially this

will allow the government to establish

rules for extenuating circumstances

meaning that they could for example far

more easily revoke Asylum permits expand

the definition of undesirability so that

more people who cause a nuisance could

be deported and legally rejecting

applications where foreigners don't

appear for a hearing for article 111 the

exemptions Clause to come into effect a

Royal Decree must be signed by the king

followed by a bill passed through the

House of Representatives and if it does

go through all of that then it would

basically give the Government powers to

take Extraordinary Measures without

parliamentary approval the opposition

socialist and green left labor parties

have condemned the proposal calling it

anti-democratic and really scandalous

while the pbv's migration and Asylum

Minister argued that it's legal and

necessary to quote declare an asylum

crisis this brings us on to point two

which is introducing a new Asylum crisis

act this is a temporary law that would

introduce extra powers to freeze all

decisions on Asylum applications and

Deport as many people as possible

including the program specifies by force

the government also adds that they'll

take additional measures at the border

although it's not exactly clear what

this means the third and perhaps most

headline grabbing policy is opting out

of the eu's new pact on Asylum and

migration which took nearly four years

to negotiate and was only finalized in

June this year the bit that Builders and

Co are presumably objecting to is the

so-called solidarity mechanism which

obliges member states to take in Asylum

Seekers from countries that receive a

disproportionate number in practice this

will involve redistributing Asylum

Seekers from so-called Frontier

countries like Italy to central European

States like the Netherlands there's

therefore basically zero chance that the

EU will agree to this given that it

would effectively undermine the entire

project alongside this the Netherlands

also wants to build a mini shenen with

quote like-minded and surrounding

countries this isn't actually a new idea

either back in 2015 the Netherlands

floated a similar scheme including

Austria Germany Belgium and Luxembourg

but it didn't really go anywhere fourth

is a comprehensive Asylum reform package

this is basically a whole load of

structural reforms to reduce overall

entries into the Netherlands and

increase the rate of deportations when

implemented family members will be

restricted and the burden of proof for

the right to Asylum will be placed

almost entirely on the individual legal

assistance for Asylum Seekers will also

be restricted it will be more difficult

to appeal decisions shelter will be

downgraded and emergency accommodation

will be shut down the fifth point is

specifically about Ukrainian Asylum

Seekers until this summer The

Netherlands are given accommodation and

living allowances to Ukrainian refugees

but they're now stopping all

accommodation support for those with an

income this is normally about increasing

their financial Independence and

Ukrainian citizens are still covered by

the eu's newly extended temporary

protection mechanism until March 2026

but the Dutch requirements for support

are markedly stricter and finally number

six involves tightening the

Naturalization requirements for Dutch

citizenship the government is doubling

the 5-year waiting period to 10 with

naturalized citizens expected to

renounce their original nationality

after obtaining Dutch nationality the

government is also raising the language

requirement for naturalization to B1 I

intermediate and wants migrants to quote

become productive on the labor market as

quickly as possible so now we've been

through all of the details will the

Netherlands new Asylum reforms actually

work well it's clear they want to make

it far more difficult for Asylum Seekers

and their family to enter the

Netherlands legally and it's also likely

that more deportations will happen which

could significantly reduce the flow of

migration into the country however some

of the proposals are perhaps best

understood as a form of election ering

rather than serious policy proposals as

we mentioned earlier opting out of the

eu's migration pact is essentially

unworkable and highly unlikely to be

unproved given that there are only five

optout Clauses in action at the moment

the first two being Denmark's exemptions

from the Euro Zone and the area of

Freedom security and Justice or afsj the

next two being Islands exemptions from

the afsj and the shenen area due to its

common border with the UK and the fifth

being Poland's exemption from the

charter of fundamental rights vas and

Shu know this and this probably is more

about burnishing their anti-immigration

and euroskeptic credentials with their

base these policies also risk igniting

tensions within the Coalition over

migration and Asylum policies

specifically while the pvv has been an

outspoken supporter of the Asylum

program with Builders suggesting that

the cabinet should go even further and

introduce border controls the other

Coalition parties have kept fairly tight

lipped about it with reports this week

suggesting that the center right NSC

party will withdraw their support if the

Council of States ultimately advises

against It ultimately we'll have to see

whether this ultr strict Asylum package

actually pays dividends and it'll be an

interesting test for other migration

skeptic parties in Europe about the

actual viability of Hardline immigration

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