Netherlands seeks to ‘opt out’ of EU migration rules citing ‘asylum crisis’

The Netherlands has formally requested an opt-out from the European Union’s asylum rules, citing an ongoing “asylum crisis.” The move was announced by Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber, who said the country seeks greater control over its migration policies.

Faber, a member of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), which is part of the ruling coalition, posted on X, on Wednesday (September 18): “I have just informed the European Commission that I want a migration ‘opt-out’ on migration matters in Europe for the Netherlands. We have to handle our own asylum policy once more!”

This request follows the announcement of a new immigration policy by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, aimed at addressing what he described as an unsustainable influx of migrants. “We cannot continue to bear the large influx of migrants into our country,” Schoof said Friday, framing the situation as a national crisis.

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Seeking more autonomy

The Netherlands joins Denmark, which has already secured an opt-out from the EU’s common asylum policy, as a country seeking more autonomy on migration issues. However, experts warn that achieving this goal may prove difficult. According to the Dutch Advisory Council on Migration, such an opt-out would require changes to the EU treaties, a process that demands unanimous consent from all 27 member states.

“This is not very likely because the number of asylum seekers must then be distributed among fewer other member states,” the council noted, suggesting that not all countries would support such a change.

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Coalition disagreement

Tensions are also emerging within the Dutch coalition government, which includes the PVV, the farmers’ party BBB, the right-wing liberal VVD, and the anti-corruption NSC. Nicolien van Vroonhoven, the acting parliamentary leader of the NSC, said her party would support the tougher immigration measures only if they are approved by the Council of State, the country’s top advisory body.

The move prompted a sharp response from Wilders, the PVV leader, who accused van Vroonhoven of undermining efforts to resolve the crisis. Despite his party’s surprise victory in November elections, Wilders gave up his bid for the prime ministership after coalition negotiations became fraught.

As the Dutch government pushes for greater control over its asylum policies, the request for an opt-out adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing European debate on migration.

With inputs from AFP