Netherlands to Implement Stricter Migration Controls Amid Growing Concerns

Just days after Germany introduced new border measures to curb unwanted migration, the Dutch government has followed suit, announcing a series of stringent policies aimed at limiting the flow of asylum seekers. Among these measures is a temporary suspension on all new asylum applications, a move expected to take effect in the coming months.

According to reports by Reuters, the newly-formed government, led by Geert Wilders’ nationalist and anti-Islam PVV party, declared plans on Friday to address what it calls a “national asylum crisis.” This declaration would allow the government to enact migration restrictions without the need for parliamentary approval.

While opposition parties have raised concerns about the legality and necessity of these measures, PVV’s Migration Minister Marjolein Faber defended the decision, stating that the government is acting within the framework of existing Dutch migration laws. “We are committed to making the Netherlands as unattractive as possible for asylum seekers,” Faber remarked in a formal statement.

The government also reiterated its intention to seek an exemption from the European Union’s asylum regulations. However, this proposal is expected to face strong opposition from Brussels, as EU member states have already reached an agreement on a unified migration policy.

Initial measures include ending open-ended asylum permits and introducing a crisis law that would pause the processing of all new applications for up to two years. In addition, the Dutch government is planning to reduce the facilities and services currently provided to asylum seekers as part of its broader efforts to control migration.